BEST LINES:  Pinnacle -½ +168 BET 365 -½ +165 SportsInteraction -½ +165 5DIMES -½ +165

Posted at 12:30 PM EST.

9:05 PM EST. Like one of the famous Chinooks that blow across the Rockies, the winds of changes are swirling in Calgary. There's a saying in the Stampede City that goes something like, "If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes." The same could be said of these Flames, as the fairweather fans had their feelings heard when the "C of Red" booed their boys off of the ice in a 9-1 loss to the Penguins the last time they were at home. It was a brutal performance to be sure and we have to wonder if the Flames would be better off on the road for the time being.

Like many teams, Calgary's biggest weakness is in net, but unlike most squads, they have a solution to their problem and he's already on the team. Young David Rittich has made four starts and six appearances this season, which means he's had to come in and mop up for veteran Mike Smith on more than one occasion, the last being that forgettable night against the Pens. He's 3-1 when he takes the crease. Rittich's performance in a 2-1 overtime win at Buffalo on Monday night was a thing of beauty. The problem is that Mike Smith is in his way and there were reports that Smith's agent was in Calgary last week to talk contract extension with the Flames. Pierre Lebrun reported that Smith would like to sign in Calgary, but is also comfortable hitting the open market. The Flames would be wise to cut ties now because Smith is getting worse. In his last five starts, he's posted save percentages of .960, .889, .714, .867 and .923. The 36-year-old's even strength save percentage on the season is a pathetic .894, but at least it's higher than his surface number (.878). Anytime that Smith takes the crease, these Flames are fade material, which is too bad because aside from their crusty old goalie, there is a lot to like about that team.

The Avalanche are really, really, good and they keep on getting better. Colorado is loaded with young talent with the line of Mikko Rantanen, Gabriel Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon dominating the score sheet. That group has accounted for 24 of the Avs 41 goals this season and when the rest of their lines pick it up, watch out. Rantanen leads the league in scoring, while his linemates are also in the top 10. This is a considerable goaltending mismatch with Semyon Varlamov being one of the hottest backstops despite losing four of his last five starts. W’s are nice, but they don't tell the whole story. Two of those defeats came in extra time, while back-to-back losses to the Wild and Lightning look bad, "Varly" allowed just three goals total. He stopped 25/27 against Minny and 23/24 versus the Bolts. Varlamov is first among starters in save percentage with a .950 mark and his 1.62 GAA is second only to Jaroslav Halak, who is making a case to be the starter in Boston. We get the hotter team, the better goaltender and we can take back a price. Tic-tac-toe, that's a bet we're going to make every time.

Therefore:

OT included - COLORADO +109 for 1 unit.

Regulation only - COLORADO -½ +168 for 1 unit.

Open an account today at and take advantage of their -104 style pricing on sides and totals, which is 60% better than other sportsbooks.