by Chuck Sommers
Thursday, Mar 02, 2023
Time: 9 p.m. ET
Venue: Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB
Where to watch: TVAS, SNW, TSN4
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Even
FanDuel: Even
BetMGM: Even
Caesars: Even
Season record
Maple Leafs: 37-15-8
Flames: 27-21-13
The All-Star break is over, the second half of the NHL season can officially begin, and we're bound for what should be a very exciting second half of the hockey season. Basketball and hockey are about to rule the roost in the sports betting world once the Super Bowl is done with, and we should all be very excited for what's to come. When the trade deadline hits and players switch teams, you know things are about to get hectic over these final 30 games or so. One way you can stay tuned with the action is following what our champion handicappers are doing in the world of the NHL. Look at ASA, Inc., reeling in a $6,750 profit off a 17-9-0 run. Al McMordie is also doing well on the ice with a 13-5-0 run and a net profit of $6,050. Scott Rickenbach has also been hanging strong with a lot of betting action, in what's been an unusual year, with a 24-18-0 run and reeling in $5,950. You know this action is going to be great now that games are back and a busy second half if on the horizon. All you need to do is head to our BEST BETS page at bigal.com to find out all of what we're trying to tell you. Make sure you're locked in at bigal.com and go to our Best Bets page to find out what our champion handicappers have to say in the world of the NHL!
Maple Leafs vs. Flames preview, prediction and analysis
The Toronto Maple Leafs will be playing the Calgary Flames on Thursday, March 2 in Calgary.
The Toronto Maple Leafs lost against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday, March 1 at Rogers Place in Edmonton with a score of 5-2. The Toronto Maple Leafs currently rank 2nd in the Atlantic Division.
Mitchell Marner had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs (37-16-8), who had won three in a row. Ilya Samsonov made 27 saves.
"We wanted to try and keep them out of the middle and didn't do a great job of that tonight," Marner said. "We let them have the freedom, speed and space through that neutral zone, and they can make you pay for it, and they did."
Connor McDavid gave the Oilers a 1-0 lead on a power play at 3:49 of the first period when he lifted in the rebound of Leon Draisaitl's one-timer. David Kampf tied it 1-1 at 12:15, scoring glove side from the slot after Marner took the puck away from Cody Ceci along the boards.
McDavid put Edmonton back in front 2-1 at 13:53 on an individual rush following a turnover in the neutral zone.
"I think at this level we all have an understanding of what you have to bring to the table and the level of execution, especially when you're playing the No. 1 offensive team in the League and with the type of year [McDavid] is having," Toronto forward John Tavares said. "We just didn't do a good enough job, especially early, taking care of things in the neutral zone. [McDavid] got going with a power-play goal, and he's been hot all year. Especially in the last number of games, he's been putting the puck in the net. We didn't make it more difficult gaining entry into our zone and earning offense that way."
After three more goals by Edmonton, Marner cut it to 5-2 at 1:08 of the third period with a shot through a screen from the right circle for a power-play goal.
"We just didn't play with any purpose or intelligence," Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. "To me, our opponent tonight was very focused and very committed to playing together to win the game. I thought our guys started fine, but just the way we started the penalty kill … we get our first zone exit and we give it right back. We're not serious about winning when that's the case."
The Toronto Maple Leafs have won six of their last 10 games.
The Calgary Flames lost against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, February 28 at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary with a score of 4-3 in overtime. The Calgary Flames currently rank 5th in the Pacific Division.
Blake Coleman, Dillon Dube and Jonathan Huberdeau scored for the Flames (27-21-13), who have lost three in a row (0-1-2) and four of five (1-2-2). Dan Vladar allowed two goals on five shots before being replaced at the start of the second period by Markstrom, who made 13 saves.
"At this point in the year we're scrambling for our lives," Calgary defenseman Nikita Zadorov said. "We're still fighting. We're going to fight until the end. It's a grown man league … you can't feel sorry for yourself. You just got to go out there and play hockey and compete and put all your effort into it."
Boston scored the first two goals of the game before Coleman pulled the Flames to within 2-1 at 1:07 of the second period with a shot past Ullmark's blocker from the slot.
Calgary outshot Boston 20-4 in the second period.
Dube tied it 2-2 at 8:16 of the third period with a shot from the left hash marks off a cross-ice saucer pass from Tyler Toffoli. Huberdeau put Calgary in front 3-2 at 9:33 when his no-look pass from the top of the crease deflected in off the skate of Derek Forbort.
"We stuck with it," Huberdeau said. "I think we were playing well. We deserved to come back in this game, which we did. We just have to (stick with it). I think it's happened too many times this year (trailing in the third period). That's the kind of stuff we need to figure out."
Boston tied it 3-3 at 14:07 and scored in overtime with a final score of 4-3.
The Calgary Flames have won three of their last 10 games.
Prediction
I really don't envy the Toronto position right there. Flames 4, Maple Leafs 2
The Toronto Maple Leafs lost against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday, March 1 at Rogers Place in Edmonton with a score of 5-2. The Toronto Maple Leafs currently rank 2nd in the Atlantic Division.
Mitchell Marner had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs (37-16-8), who had won three in a row. Ilya Samsonov made 27 saves.
"We wanted to try and keep them out of the middle and didn't do a great job of that tonight," Marner said. "We let them have the freedom, speed and space through that neutral zone, and they can make you pay for it, and they did."
Connor McDavid gave the Oilers a 1-0 lead on a power play at 3:49 of the first period when he lifted in the rebound of Leon Draisaitl's one-timer. David Kampf tied it 1-1 at 12:15, scoring glove side from the slot after Marner took the puck away from Cody Ceci along the boards.
McDavid put Edmonton back in front 2-1 at 13:53 on an individual rush following a turnover in the neutral zone.
"I think at this level we all have an understanding of what you have to bring to the table and the level of execution, especially when you're playing the No. 1 offensive team in the League and with the type of year [McDavid] is having," Toronto forward John Tavares said. "We just didn't do a good enough job, especially early, taking care of things in the neutral zone. [McDavid] got going with a power-play goal, and he's been hot all year. Especially in the last number of games, he's been putting the puck in the net. We didn't make it more difficult gaining entry into our zone and earning offense that way."
After three more goals by Edmonton, Marner cut it to 5-2 at 1:08 of the third period with a shot through a screen from the right circle for a power-play goal.
"We just didn't play with any purpose or intelligence," Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. "To me, our opponent tonight was very focused and very committed to playing together to win the game. I thought our guys started fine, but just the way we started the penalty kill … we get our first zone exit and we give it right back. We're not serious about winning when that's the case."
The Toronto Maple Leafs have won six of their last 10 games.
The Calgary Flames lost against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, February 28 at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary with a score of 4-3 in overtime. The Calgary Flames currently rank 5th in the Pacific Division.
Blake Coleman, Dillon Dube and Jonathan Huberdeau scored for the Flames (27-21-13), who have lost three in a row (0-1-2) and four of five (1-2-2). Dan Vladar allowed two goals on five shots before being replaced at the start of the second period by Markstrom, who made 13 saves.
"At this point in the year we're scrambling for our lives," Calgary defenseman Nikita Zadorov said. "We're still fighting. We're going to fight until the end. It's a grown man league … you can't feel sorry for yourself. You just got to go out there and play hockey and compete and put all your effort into it."
Boston scored the first two goals of the game before Coleman pulled the Flames to within 2-1 at 1:07 of the second period with a shot past Ullmark's blocker from the slot.
Calgary outshot Boston 20-4 in the second period.
Dube tied it 2-2 at 8:16 of the third period with a shot from the left hash marks off a cross-ice saucer pass from Tyler Toffoli. Huberdeau put Calgary in front 3-2 at 9:33 when his no-look pass from the top of the crease deflected in off the skate of Derek Forbort.
"We stuck with it," Huberdeau said. "I think we were playing well. We deserved to come back in this game, which we did. We just have to (stick with it). I think it's happened too many times this year (trailing in the third period). That's the kind of stuff we need to figure out."
Boston tied it 3-3 at 14:07 and scored in overtime with a final score of 4-3.
The Calgary Flames have won three of their last 10 games.
Prediction
I really don't envy the Toronto position right there. Flames 4, Maple Leafs 2
Betting trends
Check back later
Check back later
Projected lines
Maple Leafs:
Michael Bunting -- Auston Matthews -- Mitchell Marner
John Tavares -- Ryan O'Reilly -- William Nylander
Alexander Kerfoot -- David Kampf -- Calle Jarnkrok
Zach Aston-Reese -- Noel Acciari -- Sam Lafferty
Morgan Rielly -- Justin Holl
Jake McCabe -- TJ Brodie
Mark Giordano -- Timothy Liljegren
Joseph Woll
Michael Bunting -- Auston Matthews -- Mitchell Marner
John Tavares -- Ryan O'Reilly -- William Nylander
Alexander Kerfoot -- David Kampf -- Calle Jarnkrok
Zach Aston-Reese -- Noel Acciari -- Sam Lafferty
Morgan Rielly -- Justin Holl
Jake McCabe -- TJ Brodie
Mark Giordano -- Timothy Liljegren
Joseph Woll
Flames:
Dillon Dube -- Elias Lindholm -- Tyler Toffoli
Jakob Pelletier -- Nazem Kadri -- Jonathan Huberdeau
Andrew Mangiapane -- Mikael Backlund -- Blake Coleman
Milan Lucic -- Trevor Lewis -- Walker Duehr
MacKenzie Weegar -- Rasmus Andersson
Noah Hanifin -- Chris Tanev
Nikita Zadorov -- Dennis Gilbert
Dan Vladar
Dillon Dube -- Elias Lindholm -- Tyler Toffoli
Jakob Pelletier -- Nazem Kadri -- Jonathan Huberdeau
Andrew Mangiapane -- Mikael Backlund -- Blake Coleman
Milan Lucic -- Trevor Lewis -- Walker Duehr
MacKenzie Weegar -- Rasmus Andersson
Noah Hanifin -- Chris Tanev
Nikita Zadorov -- Dennis Gilbert
Dan Vladar
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
