...
...
Read Article
Flames vs. Avalanche prediction: Why Colorado is favored to win Thursday's NHL matchup [4/9/2026]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Nick Slade, Chief Content Officer
Get Calgary Flames vs Colorado Avalanche predictions for NHL Thursday.
The Colorado Avalanche and Calgary Flames will lock horns in the NHL at Ball Arena on Thursday, with puck drop at 9:00 PM ET.
Based on updated simulations, Dimers' proven NHL model predicts the Avalanche as the most likely winner of the Flames vs. Avalanche game.
This article offers further insights into Thursday's matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.
Flames vs. Avs prediction: Who will win and cover?
Using innovative machine learning and data, we have simulated the outcome of Thursday's NHL game between the Flames and Avalanche, forming part of our NHL predictions coverage.
Our leading predictive model currently gives the Avalanche a 71% chance of beating the Flames.
According to our model, the Flames (+1.5) have a 51% chance of covering the puck line, while the 6.5-goal over/under has a 55% chance of staying under.
Flames vs. Avalanche odds
We have researched the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Flames | Avalanche |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | +1.5 (+110) | -1.5 (-125) |
| Moneyline | +280 | -330 |
| Total | o6.5 (+100) | u6.5 (-115) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Flames vs. Avalanche picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best current odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | Flames +1.5 | +110 |
| Moneyline | Flames | +280 |
| Total | Under 6.5 | -115 |
According to our NHL best bets, the top play to make on this game is Flames +1.5 at the spread.
These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.
Flames vs. Avalanche player props
Who will score a goal in Flames vs. Avalanche?
According to our model, Martin Necas is most likely to score an anytime goal in Flames vs. Avalanche.
Our projections give Necas a 41.1% chance of scoring a goal at Ball Arena, while the star is a 9.0% chance of netting the first goal the game.
Anytime goal scorer predictions
Calgary Flames
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Yegor Sharangovich | 23.9% |
| Morgan Frost | 22.3% |
| Matthew Coronato | 21.4% |
| Victor Olofsson | 21.3% |
| Joel Farabee | 19.4% |
Colorado Avalanche
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Martin Necas | 41.1% |
| Nathan MacKinnon | 38.6% |
| Brock Nelson | 30.1% |
| Gabriel Landeskog | 28.5% |
| Valeri Nichushkin | 28.2% |
First goal scorer predictions
Calgary Flames
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Victor Olofsson | 4.3% |
| Yegor Sharangovich | 4.3% |
| Matthew Coronato | 3.8% |
| Mikael Backlund | 3.6% |
| Joel Farabee | 3.6% |
Colorado Avalanche
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Martin Necas | 9.0% |
| Nathan MacKinnon | 8.0% |
| Valeri Nichushkin | 5.8% |
| Gabriel Landeskog | 5.6% |
| Brock Nelson | 5.5% |
Flames vs. Avs game-day updates and essential details
Thursday's matchup between the Avalanche and Flames at Ball Arena is scheduled to start at 9:00 PM ET.
- Who: Calgary Flames vs. Colorado Avalanche
- Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026
- Time: 9:00 PM ET/6:00PM PT
- Venue: Ball Arena
Conclusion
We predict the Avalanche, with a 71% win probability, will likely beat the Flames in Thursday's NHL matchup.
Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.
Nick Slade, with nearly two decades of experience, is the Chief Content Officer at Cipher Sports Technology Group, overseeing content for Dimers. He specializes in soccer, NBA, and NHL betting, leveraging predictive analytics and machine learning to provide accurate betting insights.
Advertiser disclosure