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Calgary Flames vs Minnesota Wild Game Preview
The Calgary Flames visit the Minnesota Wild on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Puck drop is set for 8:00 PM on ESPN+. Minnesota is coming off a wild comeback win over Chicago that took a shootout, and they’ll try to avoid the classic letdown two days later. Calgary comes in searching for traction, winless in four (0-2-2), and now missing a key piece for a while.
Minnesota has been better lately at finding ways to win even when the game starts going sideways. Calgary has been competitive in stretches, but the finish has been missing, and the lineup takes another hit with Blake Coleman shut down until after the Olympic break. That’s a real loss, not only for scoring, but for how they play shift to shift.
The market is treating Minnesota like the stronger side at home, with the Wild listed at -215 and the Flames at +180. The big question is whether Calgary can keep this close enough to make the plus price meaningful, or if Minnesota’s depth and goaltending edge eventually squeeze the game.
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Calgary Flames vs Minnesota Wild Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor updated prices and shop numbers throughout the day using the latest NHL odds.
| Team | Moneyline | Puck Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calgary Flames | +180 | Not provided | O 6.0 (Not provided) / U 6.0 (-115) |
| Minnesota Wild | -215 | Not provided | O 6.0 (Not provided) / U 6.0 (-115) |
Calgary Flames Betting Form
Calgary’s recent form is a mix of decent effort and not enough payoff. They’ve been generating looks, they put 35 shots on goal in that 4-3 overtime loss to Anaheim, but they’re not getting the extra goal that flips the result. That’s been the theme for a lot of their season. Close enough to hang around, not sharp enough to win the moments that matter.
The Coleman news is a big deal for bettors because it narrows Calgary’s path. He’s one of those players who touches every part of a game. Forecheck detail, defensive shifts late in periods, net-front work, all of it. Without him, the Flames need someone else to play that “right every shift” role, and that’s not a thing you can simply assign on a whiteboard. It either shows up or it doesn’t.
For recent results and team trends, the Calgary Flames stats and results page is the quick check. Availability matters here, so monitor the Calgary Flames injury report before puck drop.
Minnesota Wild Betting Form
Minnesota is coming off one of those games that can either ignite a stretch run or turn into a trap if you let it. Down 3-0, they pushed back hard, tied it late, and then Kaprizov finished the job in the shootout. That kind of win builds confidence, but it also sometimes creates a weird emotional hangover. You’ve already had your drama, now you have to show up and play a clean first period again.
Goaltending looks stable, and that matters for a home favorite. Filip Gustavsson is expected to start after Wallstedt went last game, and Gustavsson has strong career numbers against Calgary. When you’re laying a price, you want a goalie you trust to stop the early ones, because favorites get uncomfortable fast when they’re chasing.
For splits and recent game logs, the Minnesota Wild schedule and stats page helps. And because Minnesota has some key pieces missing on the back end, monitor the Minnesota Wild injury report before you bet.
Calgary Flames vs Minnesota Wild Matchup Breakdown
This is a game-script matchup. Minnesota is fine playing a patient home game, letting the opponent make the first mistake, then building the lead and protecting it. Calgary’s best chance is to keep it tight early, avoid the kind of second-period wobble that turns into a two-goal gap, and try to win the special teams and rebound battles. The problem is that Calgary’s offense has been inconsistent, and without Coleman, they lose one of their cleaner ways to create ugly goals.
The goalie angle is interesting. Calgary can go to Dustin Wolf or Devin Cooley, and the numbers are very different. If Calgary gets strong goaltending, they can absolutely hang around long enough to make the plus price feel live. If they don’t, Minnesota has enough depth and enough finishing to turn a close game into a 4-2 type result that never really flips back.
If you want a sharper framework for pricing game scripts like this, the NHL betting guide is useful for translating goaltending, pace, and roster absences into side and total decisions. And if you think in bigger arcs about why certain teams get taxed as the season moves along, the Stanley Cup betting guide helps with that market context.
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Calgary Flames vs Minnesota Wild Predictions and Best Bets
I lean Minnesota on the moneyline at -215. It’s not a fun price, but it fits the matchup. The Wild are at home, they have the better current form, and Calgary is walking in short-handed without one of its most reliable two-way forwards. The Flames can battle, but they need an efficient night, and their margin feels thin if Minnesota controls the middle of the ice.
The total lean depends on how you expect Calgary to score. If you think the Flames are going to struggle to generate enough high-danger looks without Coleman, that Under 6.0 starts to make sense, especially if Gustavsson is sharp early. If Calgary’s goalie situation turns shaky, then the number can get stressed quickly, but I don’t love betting into that uncertainty without confirmed starters.
If you’re looking for a secondary angle, Calgary plus the goal and a half would normally be the way to approach a +180 dog, but the puck line price wasn’t provided here, so I’ll keep it simple. This is a spot where Minnesota should control more of the game, and Calgary’s path is narrower than usual.
Best Bet: Minnesota Wild moneyline (-215).
NHL Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you’re betting NHL every day, the edge is often timing and comparison. Goalies, late scratches, and even morning skate notes can move a number, so checking today’s NHL picks can help you avoid locking in a stale price when the board shifts late.
ScoresAndStats also keeps performance transparent. You can compare different styles across top sports handicappers, verify results on the handicapper leaderboard, and if you want more volume beyond the free board, you can buy expert picks. For more daily matchup breakdowns in this same format, the NHL previews hub keeps the full slate organized.
