Betting tips from AI for Calgary Flames vs Vegas Golden Knights, 21 December 2025.

Calgary looks like the smarter value play this night. The Flames’ 5-1-1 surge and a raucous Saddledome combined with Dustin Wolf’s steadier netminding create an edge at home, and the uncertainty around Jack Eichel (questionable) — plus Shea Theodore’s status — can blunt Vegas’ top-end attack. That upside is priced attractively at 2.75.

Vegas still poses a real threat — they hold the season edge and bring strong road form with a superior power play at 2.25 — but the matchup dynamics and home momentum tilt this toward Calgary. I expect a tight, physical game where the Flames sneak an outright win.

The Calgary Flames present a compelling underdog bet at 2.75 against the Vegas Golden Knights. Ryan Smyth's "trap game" warning for Vegas resonates, given Calgary's impressive 5-1-1 recent run and the anticipated raucous home crowd at the Saddledome. This momentum is further bolstered by Dustin Wolf's stellar goaltending, conceding two or fewer goals in four of his last six starts, providing the Flames with renewed defensive confidence.

Crucially, Vegas faces significant uncertainty with Jack Eichel and Shea Theodore both questionable. Elliotte Friedman rightly highlights Eichel as "the single biggest chess piece" for the Golden Knights' attack; his potential absence or limited play severely handicaps Vegas's offensive firepower and power-play structure. While Vegas has a strong road record and a better power play, the Flames' current surge, combined with goaltending stability and Vegas's injury woes, creates a strong value play for the home side.

Calgary's recent 5-1-1 run gives them serious momentum heading into this matchup, with Ryan Smyth's warning about this being a potential trap game for Vegas carrying weight. The Flames' home ice advantage at the energized Saddledome shouldn't be underestimated.

Vegas faces significant uncertainty with Jack Eichel and Shea Theodore both questionable. Eichel's absence would be particularly damaging, as Friedman correctly identified him as the "single biggest chess piece" in the Golden Knights' attack. Without him, their offensive potency takes a major hit.

Dustin Wolf's resurgence in net for Calgary provides the defensive stability they've been seeking, allowing just over two goals per game in his last six starts. Meanwhile, Jonathan Huberdeau's return to the forward lineup adds offensive firepower.

Despite Vegas holding the season edge and having better special teams (particularly their power play advantage over Calgary's league-worst unit), the combination of Calgary's home momentum and Vegas's potential lineup holes makes the Flames at 2.75 the value play here.

The Calgary Flames are riding a hot streak with a 5-1-1 record in their last seven, bringing serious bite at home in the Saddledome, where the crowd's energy could turn this into a trap game for the Vegas Golden Knights. Veteran Ryan Smyth nailed it—don't sleepwalk into Calgary's surge. Dustin Wolf has steadied the Flames' net, allowing more than two goals in just two of his last six starts, bolstering their defensive confidence.

Vegas, meanwhile, faces uncertainty with Jack Eichel and Shea Theodore questionable, potentially disrupting their top lines and power play—their edge over Calgary's league-worst unit. Elliotte Friedman called Eichel the 'single biggest chess piece' for Vegas's attack; without him, momentum swings hard to the Flames. Sure, the Golden Knights have solid road form and a season edge, but those injury doubts and a rumored locker room spat among depth forwards add tension.

With Calgary at 2.75 offering value against Vegas's 1.80, this screams underdog upset. The draw at 4.10 is tempting in a tight NHL clash, but Flames' home fire tips the scales.

Ryan Smyth’s warning about Calgary’s 'bite at home' resonates as the Flames ride a 5-1-1 surge with Dustin Wolf’s goaltending providing stability. Vegas faces key uncertainties with Jack Eichel questionable, dulling their offensive edge per Elliotte Friedman, and Shea Theodore also doubtful.
Calgary’s home crowd energy and Jonathan Huberdeau’s return add firepower, while Vegas’s minor locker room friction and reshuffled lines could hinder their rhythm. Despite Vegas’s season edge and power-play advantage, the odds at 1.80 overvalue them given injury concerns.
The Flames at 2.75 offer compelling value as a live underdog in a trap game where momentum favors the hosts.

Calgary Flames have been quietly building momentum, going 5-1-1 in their last seven games. This surge has not gone unnoticed, with veteran analyst Ryan Smyth pointing out the potential for this matchup to become a “trap game” for Vegas. The Golden Knights, despite their solid road form, face significant uncertainty with key players like Jack Eichel and Shea Theodore listed as questionable. Eichel’s absence or limited play could cripple Vegas’s attack, as his playmaking has been described as their “single biggest chess piece.”
On the Flames’ side, goaltender Dustin Wolf has regained form, allowing two goals or fewer in four of his last six starts. This resurgence gives Calgary a defensive edge, particularly against a Vegas team that thrives on capitalizing via its power play. However, Calgary’s league-worst man-advantage unit might struggle to convert chances if opportunities arise. Adding fuel to the Flames’ fire is Jonathan Huberdeau’s return to the forward rotation, injecting offensive creativity at a crucial time.
The Saddledome crowd could also play a pivotal role. After Calgary’s recent uptick in results, expect an electric atmosphere that amplifies their momentum while potentially unsettling a banged-up Vegas squad. While tensions in the Golden Knights’ locker room appear minor, any friction can be magnified under pressure—especially on the road against a confident opponent.
From a betting perspective, the odds suggest value in backing Calgary. At 2.75, the Flames present an attractive payout compared to Vegas at 2.25. Given the combination of home-ice advantage, Vegas’s injury concerns, and Calgary’s improved form, siding with the Flames feels like the smart move.