Sunday afternoon in the NHL sees the Winnipeg Jets hosting the Calgary Flames in an all-Canadian matchup at Canada Life Centre. Welcome to NHL Predictions here at Last Word on Hockey, where we preview and predict the upcoming slate of NHL games around the league each day! In this article, we will preview and predict the matchup between the Winnipeg Jets and Calgary Flames. Be sure to check out all of our NHL Predictions throughout the 2024-25 season and follow along with your favourite teams.
NHL Predictions
Winnipeg Jets vs Calgary Flames
Head-to-Head: Jets 1-1 Flames
Time: 6:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: SNW, TSN3
Sunday will be the third and final meeting of the regular season between the Winnipeg Jets and Calgary Flames. These teams met on January 18th, with the Flames taking the game 3-1 in Winnipeg. Prior to that, the Jets took the teams’ first meeting of the season, 5-3. Looking back just over a week ago, it was Dustin Wolf stealing the show. He made 38 saves enroute to victory, with his team being outshot 39-22 in the contest.
Both teams enter the meeting on Sunday riding winning streaks. Calgary has won three games in row, coming off a 5-4 victory in Minnesota last night. Winnipeg on the other hand, has won two games in a row, defeating Utah 5-2 their last time out.
Winnipeg Jets Hoping to Avoid Being Burnt Again
The Jets will look to avenge that 3-1 home loss to the Flames just eight days ago. They should be feeling good entering this game, as it was the secondary scoring that awoke and erupted versus Utah on Friday. Cole Perfetti ended a 14-game goalless streak in style, by netting his first career hat trick. He cracked the double digit mark in goals on the season (10) with that performance. As well, Nikolaj Ehlers had a goal and two assists, recording his 500th career point in the process. The team was sturdy defensively, with Connor Hellebuyck needing to make just 17 saves. Last time they met, the Flames ended a three-game winning streak for the Jets. This time, Winnipeg will look to extend to a three-game winning streak.
Calgary Flames Won’t Go Away
Calgary has won six of their last eight games and occupy the last wild card spot in the Western Conference entering Sunday’s games. This team has had peaks and valleys throughout the season but are keeping themselves afloat into the second half of the season. Among their current three-game winning streak, they have exploded offensively to the tune of 13 goals for. A big sign for the Flames was Andrei Kuzmenko breaking out with two goals against Minnesota in their last game. Calgary has been waiting for the Russian to breakthrough and rediscover his scoring prowess that he exemplified in Vancouver a few season ago. If the Flames are to stay relevant into April, they will need players such as Kuzmenko to step their game up offensively and insulate their top scorers.
NHL Predictions and Jets vs Flames
Every time these two teams meet, it is an entertaining matchup. Expect nothing else on Sunday. Calgary is playing the second game of a back-to-back at an earlier start time, which may pose as a disadvantage. Expect to see the Jets jump on the Flames early in this game; Winnipeg held Utah to just five first period shots on Friday night and will want to replicate that in this one. Winnipeg dominated this meeting earlier this month, but were merely beaten by a hot goaltender. This game should feature an extremely busy Calgary Flames defensive zone, a not-so-busy Connor Hellebuyck, and a Winnipeg Jets victory. With Perfetti breaking out last game, some pressure has been relieved from the shoulders of Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor.
Prediction: Jets win 4-1
Prop Bet of the Night
Coming off of a vintage performance, Nikolaj Ehlers is a good bet to find the back of the net again. Winnipeg will start strong in this game, and look for the speedy Dane to find the net early. Gambling sites have Ehlers at +750 as an anytime goal scorer in the first period of this game. Watch for him to get the Jets off to a dream start on Sunday.
Main Photo Credit: James Carey Lauder – Imagn Images
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The post NHL Predictions January 26th Winnipeg Jets vs Calgary Flames appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.