The Calgary Flames and the Pittsburgh Penguins meet in NHL action from PPG Paints Arena on Saturday night.

Calgary Takes Out Winnipeg

The Calgary Flames come into this game on the heels of their season-opening 5-3 win over Winnipeg last time out. Andrew Mangiapane had 2 goals and an assist while Elias Lindholm had a goal and 2 assists. Jonathan Huberdeau had a pair of assists while Rasmus Andersson and MacKenzie Weegar each had a goal. Noah Hanifin, Nikita Zadorov, Adam Ruzicka and Walker Duehr each had an assist as well. Jacob Markstrom got the win after stopping 34 of 37 shots faced in the winning effort.

Calgary Flames Team Facts

• The Flames have won each of their last three games as underdogs.
• The Flames have covered the puck line in each of their last eight games as underdogs against the Penguins.
• The Flames have lost the first period in seven of their last eight games.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in eight of the Flames’ last nine games following a win.

Calgary Flames Player Prop Facts

• Mikael Backlund has recorded at least one point in each of the Flames’ last eight games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
• Mikael Backlund has recorded at least one assist in each of the Flames’ last eight games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
• Andrew Mangiapane has scored a goal in each of the Flames’ last four games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
• Jonathan Huberdeau ranks T1st in the league for multi-assist game (1) this season.

Penguins Shut Out Capitals

The Pittsburgh Penguins got their first win of the year by virtue of a 4-0 win over Washington last time out. Sidney Crosby leads the Penguins with 3 goals while Evgeni Malkin has a team-high 4 points and 3 assists. Jake Guentzel also has 3 assists as well on the year while Reilly Smith has contributed a team-best +3 rating through the first two games of the season. Tristan Jarry has started the first two games of the year for the Penguins and has recorded a 1-1 record with a 3.13 GAA and a .944 save percentage so far this season.

Pittsburgh Penguins Team Facts

• The Penguins have lost three of their last four games as favorites.
• The Penguins have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last nine games at PPG Paints Arena against opponents on a winning streak.
• The Penguins have lost the third period in each of their last nine games following a road win.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in eight of the Penguins’ last nine games against Pacific Division opponents.

Pittsburgh Penguins Player Prop Facts

• Sidney Crosby has recorded at least one point in each of the Penguins’ last seven games as favorites against Pacific Division opponents.
• Reilly Smith has recorded at least one assist in eight of his last nine home appearances against the Flames.
• Noel Acciari has scored at least one goal in each of his last four appearances with his team as a home favorite against Pacific Division opponents.
• Noel Acciari has scored the first goal in each of his last three appearances with his team as a home favorite against Pacific Division opponents.
• Jake Guentzel ranks T1st in the league for Assists (3) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Pittsburgh Penguins ranks T1st in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (100.00%).
• The Pittsburgh Penguins ranks T4th in the league in power play percentage this season (40.00%).
• The Calgary Flames ranks T1st in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (100.00%).
• The Calgary Flames ranks T2nd in the league for goals per game this season (5.00).

Chris’ Pick

I’m looking at the Flames here. I liked what I saw from the Flames against the Jets last time out and while the Penguins got the win over the Capitals on Friday, this is a Penguins team that has not fared well on the second-half of a back-to-back going back to last year and even a bit before that as well. I think the Flames are worth a look at this price so give me Calgary here.