Staff Predictions & Lines: Looks Like It’s Another Night Without Dillon Dube

The Flames will make Dube a game time decision for Tuesday night.

By markparkinson14, Flashalytics, Madeline Campbell, and Renu Sahota Jan 26, 2021, 11:45am PST

Staff Predictions

Calgary Flames vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 PM MT, Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary AB

Favourite: Toronto Line: -115 O/U: 6.5

Staff Predictions

Mark: Calgary Flames 4 - Toronto Maple Leafs 2

This one will be an emotional rollercoaster, but I feel like the Flames can harness that and come away with a victory. The Maple Leafs will be looking for a fight, but Calgary needs the points. Plus, it’s not like they played poorly during Sunday’s 3-2 loss. Let the Leafs have their “retribution,” Calgary would rather have the win.

Flash: Calgary Flames 4 - Toronto Maple Leafs 1

First off I want to say that Matthew Tkachuk does not have to answer any bell. By ignoring all fight requests it will further enrage the opposition throwing many off their game. The downside is that by doing that he paints a target on him for the whole game. Matthew Tkachuk has been absolutely elite with his actual on-ice play through 4 games, the team would be significantly worse with him in the box for 5 minutes (or an injured hand/concussion etc.)

As for team deployment the Leafs are letting Mikko Lehtonen play tonight which would make their powerplay a bit more lethal, but sitting Travis Dermott leaves a shot suppression hole that any mismatch could capitalize on. With the Valimaki-Nesterov & Hanifin-Tanev pairings playing top notch i don’t see the Flames surrendering much to a Leafs team with Matthews not at 100%.

Maddie: Calgary Flames 3 - Toronto Maple Leafs 2

The last game sure was a weird one, huh? I think this one is going to stabilize a bit, not be as weird (though, like Mark said, I wouldn’t be surprised to see someone going after Tkachuk for revenge reasons. We all know how it goes). Overall, I didn’t hate the Flames’ game last time around, they just need to break whatever curse they’ve been hit with and stop deflecting pucks into their own net. I’m sure they’ll be extra motivated to improve this time around, and pair that with the fact that the Leafs are extra beat up right now, and I’m liking the Flames’ chances to pull off a win. I still think it’ll be close, but I do like their chances.

Renu: Calgary Flames 6 - Toronto Maple Leafs 3

Tkachuk registers a hat trick tonight!

Michael: Calgary Flames 4 - Toronto Maple Leafs 2

Matthew Tkachuk pulls off the old Gordie Howe hat trick tonight.