The Golden Knights became one of the more interesting teams in hockey in the past week. With just eight games remaining in the regular season, Vegas made a head coaching change. This team is all but a formality for the playoffs, and there are many eyes on them in the wake of the change.

In an important game for Vegas, Calgary is unlikely to roll over. The Flames have played good hockey down the stretch despite virtually no chance at the postseason. On a packed slate, this late game has intrigue.

Flames vs. Golden Knights NHL Betting Odds

Despite a tumultuous week and frankly, season, for the Golden Knights, they are the heavy favourite in this game on the NHL odds. Vegas is -250 on the moneyline and +100 to cover a -1.5 puckline. Calgary is +200 to win outright and -120 to cover +1.5 goals. The Over 6.0 has -105 odds, and the Under sits at -115. 

In their first game under new head coach John Tortorella, the Golden Knights won 4-2, outshooting the Canucks 34-24 and outhitting them 33-25. Additionally, Vegas is 12-2 in its last 14 home games versus Calgary, and the Under has cashed in seven of Vegas’ previous nine contests.

Calgary Flames

Entering their prior game, the Flames had won five out of their last six. Then they ran into a slumping and hungry Avalanche team. Colorado bullied Calgary on Monday night, 9-2. While seven-goal losses are certainly an outlier, it’s at least slightly indicative of how the Flames match up against a hungry, playoff-bound team.

The Golden Knights are playoff-bound, they are a far better team on paper, and now they have new hunger. If they come out with anywhere near the energy that the Avalanche did against the Flames on Monday, then Calgary will have its hands full in this one.

Vegas Golden Knights

A coaching change is typically a wake-up call for the players. Often, the players view it as their fault that a coach was fired because if they had performed better, he would still have his job. Whether or not that is the case, the Vegas players own a lot of what is to come, given Tortorella is unlikely to come in and completely change their systems with such a short runway. 

For such a heavy onus on the players from here on out, it’s a good thing Vegas is still loaded with talent. The Golden Knights have six players with 20+ goals and 50+ points. They possess a ton of experience and talent up and down the lineup, and can compete with any team in hockey. A hungry Vegas team makes for a difficult matchup. Thursday should be further proof.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Flames vs. Golden Knights?

The Flames have shown some good fight this season. But it looked like they may have run out of fight on Monday when they got rocked by the Avalanche. Calgary has now lost seven out of its last eight road contests and five out of the last seven played against Vegas. 

The pure matchup already looked better for Vegas. Adding in the factors of Calgary’s brutal loss on Monday, their poor road performance, and Vegas’ renewed energy only enhance the advantages the Golden Knights already possess. The Golden Knights should come out with plenty of urgency for an important two points and win by a convincing 4-1 final.