Calgary Flames vs Vancouver Canucks Picks and Prediction for Thursday, October 9, 2025
Use Code WWWC The Calgary Flames complete a back-to-back to open the regular season when visiting the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday after facing the Edmonton Oilers on the road on Wednesday. Last season, Calgary was 41-27-14 with 96 points but did not reach the playoffs, while Vancouver finished 38-30-14 with 90 points and also did not qualify for the postseason. Calgary will play without Jonathan Huberdeau and Martin Pospisil. Vancouver will start the season without Pierre-Olivier Joseph, Teddy Blueger, and Nils Hoglander. Make sure to read this in-depth Calgary Flames vs Vancouver Canucks prediction. Shoot and score! Don’t miss our free NHL picks for the Calgary Flames at the Vancouver Canucks prediction.
This article was written before Calgary opened its regular season on Wednesday
Calgary will have a hard time duplicating last season’s success
The Calgary Flames must open the regular season without Jonathan Huberdeau. The left wing is on Calgary's first line with Nazem Kadri and Matt Coronato. Huberdeau’s absence will leave a big hole in the attack for Calgary, but the Flames hope the addition of two rookie centers - Cole Reschny and Cullen Potter - will help offset that. Many of the old faces have left Calgary, but the Flames need to shoot better as they finished with a 9.11 team shooting percentage that was 31st or next to last in 2024-25.
Huberdeau and Kadri were 50-point scorers last season for Calgary, but no one else reached that level for the Flames. With both players over 30, and Huberdeau opening the season on the IR, Calgary's in desperate need of players that produce points. Last season, Calgary scored just 225 goals in 82 games, with only five teams scoring fewer goals. Calgary’s blue line is led by Zayne Parekh, who last season with the Saginaw Spirit put up 107 points and scored his first NHL goal in the season finale of 2024-25. However, since Parekh is a rookie, the responsibility for the blue line will be with MacKenzie Weegar, who arrived from Florida in the Matthew Tkachuk trade.
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Vancouver won the Pacific Division in 2023-24 but fell back last season and looks to bounce back in 2025-26
Vancouver center Elias Pettersson, along with goalie Thatcher Demko, goal scorer Brock Boeser, and Captain Quinn Hughes, are back and look to build on a 90-point season a year ago. Vancouver added strength and checking on the boards with the addition of left-wing Evander Kane, while also adding Pierre-Olivier Joseph (IR) to shore up the defense. Departures from Vancouver included Noah Juulsen and Pius Shuter. Jake DeBrusk returns after scoring 28 goals last season. Kiefer Sherwood scored 19 goals a season ago and returns. Connor Garland had 50 points and is back.
The defense is led by Hughes. Joining Hughes to make up the first-line defense will be Filip Hronek. Marcus Petersson and veteran Tyler Meyers will make up the second line defense. In goal, Demko is back healthy after last season, appearing in just 23 games. Demko was 10-8-3 with a 2.90 goals against average .889 save percentage. Backup Kevin Lankinen saw most of the action between the pipes, finishing 25-15-10 with a 2.62 GAA and .902 SV%.
Calgary Flames vs. Vancouver Canucks Pick
Spread Pick for Flames vs. Canucks
- Vancouver Canucks -1.5 (5 units)
Vancouver is heavily favored in its season opener at home versus Calgary in part due to Calgary playing for a second consecutive night and the Flames starting the season without Jonathan Huberdeau, one of their catalysts on attack. Vancouver has sharpshooter Brock Boeser back, as well as star center Elias Pettersson, in addition to other new faces on the roster. In the back, the Canucks have the talented captain Quinn Hughes to play in front of the healthy Thatcher Demko in goal. Expect to see Vancouver score plenty of goals in the season opener, while Calgary will struggle to put the puck in the net against a tough blue line for Vancouver and Demko between the pipes.
Over/Under Pick for Flames vs. Canucks
- Under 5.5 (4 units)
Calgary is not a high-scoring team and will be without Huberdeau, while Vancouver will score its share of goals but has a very talented goalie in Thatcher Demko, who will make life difficult for Calgary scorers all night. Dating back to last season, the total has finished under in four of Calgary's last six games played on the road. During the preseason, Vancouver ended its five-game schedule with a 3-2 win over Edmonton, which finished under and had most of the regulars on the ice.
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