It's the most wonderful time of the year in the National Hockey League, as the Calgary Flames are eager to send the Dallas Stars home packing in Game 6 of this epic first-round matchup. Join us for our NHL odds series, where our Flames-Stars prediction and pick will be made. Let's get this show on the road!

 

Trailing 1-0 during the third period of Game 5 on Wednesday, the Flames fought back to score three consecutive goals to put themselves up for good. After being down 2-1 at one point against the Stars in the series, Calgary now has the opportunity to win three straight and eliminate Dallas from playoff contention in the Lone Star State. On the road this season, the Flames went 25-12-4 as the visiting team.

While Dallas has only scored a pair of goals combined in their previous two contests versus the Flames, a switch must be flipped to put the puck in the net at a more frequent rate. Luckily, Dallas will be in front of the home fans at the American Airlines Center, a place that has been very friendly to the Stars. Dallas has compiled a 27-10-4 record inside that building throughout the regular season.

Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Flames-Stars NHL Playoffs odds:

NHL Playoffs Odds: Flames-Stars Odds

Calgary Flames: -1.5 (+146)

Dallas Stars: +1.5 (-178)

Over: 5.5 (+112)

Under: 5.5 (-138)

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Why The Flames Could Cover the Spread

It all comes down to this! The Flames have pushed the Stars to the brink, as the pressure is on Dallas' shoulders. At the same time, Calgary would love the chance to end the series tonight and avoid the all-or-nothing Game 7, even with home ice shifting back to the Providence of Alberta if there happens to be a seventh game in the series.

In order for the Flames to crush any last hope the Stars may have and cover the spread in doing so, they must continue to pepper opposing Dallas goaltender Jake Oettinger, as Calgary has managed 86 shots on goal combined over the past two contests. Such offensive pursuit in the Dallas zone has proved to wear down the Stars, as Oettinger can only stop so many pucks from reaching the back of the net. Throughout the series, Oettinger has recorded a .956 save percentage throughout the playoffs, so it is vital that Calgary continues their relentlessness when shooting on net.

Although this will prove to be no easy task, the Flames must find a second gear to advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The third period has been very friendly towards the Flames as a whole, as that's where the last two games have been decided during the late stages of each matchup. Expect names like Johnny Gaudreau with his 115 total points on the season and Elias Lindholm to continue their torrid stretch in Game 6 on Friday night. The 27-year-old Lindholm from Boden, Sweden has scored six goals with two assists in his last ten games played.

Why The Stars Could Cover the Spread

With their backs up against the wall in looking ahead to Game 6, the Stars will either be making tee-time reservations at their local country club or traveling to Calgary for a Game 7 in this more than entertaining series. Although the Flames have generally been the more efficient squad for most of the season, Dallas has countered their shortcoming of talent with a sense of grittiness when faced with a problem out on the ice.

With goalie Braden Holtby remaining sidelined with a lower-body injury, a huge reason why the Stars have yet to be eliminated has been because of the net-minding ability of Jake Oettinger. Coming into the series, it was known by many that Calgary would rack up the shots on goal against the Stars, and that an incredible goaltending effort would have to be made in order to pull off the upset. While this has certainly been the case, Dallas needs to find a way to generate more scoring opportunities if they want to force a Game 7.

When the games have reached their pinnacle of importance, Dallas has looked like a deer in headlights, acting like they may not be quite ready for the big lights on one of the most colossal stages that hockey has to offer.

Averaging 2.98 goals per game during the regular season, which was good for the 14th best mark in the NHL, Dallas has to be aggressive in all aspects from the opening face to the final horn sounding. Whether it's sending out punishment in the hits department to receiving second and third chances off of shots ricocheting off of the goalie's pads, the Stars must play with the utmost of desperation to keep their season alive.

Final Flames-Stars Prediction & Pick

Does playoff hockey get any better than this? With ultimately everything on the line in tonight's postseason duel, it will be the Flames who do just enough in the most critical moments to cover the spread and get one step closer to hoisting Lord Stanley's Cup. Side with the Flames and you will not be disappointed.

Final Flames-Stars Prediction & Pick: Flames -1.5 (+146)