Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NHL match.
Despite sitting in 10th spot, the Calgary Flames actually have a greater chance of reaching the playoffs than the Vancouver Canucks, who are currently higher in the standings. The Flames need a win to stay in the hunt. But how do you get past a powerhouse like the Colorado Avalanche?
Colorado Avalanche
It looks like the Avalanche have settled into a groove again. Even Saturday’s 1:2 home loss to the St Louis Blues didn’t shake their grip on third place in the Central Division. They sit seven points behind the Dallas Stars and six clear of the Minnesota Wild. For a long stretch, the Flames were flying at an 8-1-1 clip, and only a red-hot Blues side on an identical run managed to halt their momentum. Despite the loss, goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood posted a .926 save percentage — above his season average (.916), which ranks sixth league-wide.
Calgary Flames
The Flames haven't matched that pace, going 5-3-2 in their last 10 and watching their playoff odds shrink as a result. The St Louis Blues, long trailing them for 10th, surged ahead with a 9-1-0 burst — helped in no small part by that win over the Colorado Avalanche. The Flames still have a path to the second wild card, thanks to having three games in hand, but there’s no more margin for error. A draw won’t cut it — they need the full two points from every outing now.
Colorado Avalanche vs Calgary Flames Prediction
The motivation will clearly be on the Calgary Flames’ side, but will that be enough? These two haven’t faced off in Denver since 2023, and the Avalanche have taken all three meetings in Alberta since then (6:2, 4:2, 4:2). The Flames have conceded at least three goals in four of their last five games, even if they managed to win some of them. But if they allow three or more against the Avalanche, it’s likely game over.
