Calgary Flames at Vancouver Canucks

The goaltending gap decides this for me. Devin Cooley is confirmed for Calgary after a .909 save percentage and 2.69 goals against average over 26 starts last season. Vancouver is expected to start Leevi Meriläinen, who has yet to start a game for the Canucks. Meriläinen finished last season at .860 with a 3.51 goals against average over 19 starts in Ottawa, and only two of those last ten appearances cleared .900. If Vancouver changes course, Kevin Lankinen sits at .789 this season. Both clubs' early scores point the wrong way. Calgary lost 1-6 to Seattle while holding 56.3% of 5-on-5 shot attempts. The damage came from 4.3% shooting and an .800 save percentage at 5-on-5, one bad night of finishing and goaltending. Vancouver has 13 goals in two games against Edmonton, built on 27.3% shooting at 5-on-5. Underneath that, the Canucks control only 43.2% of shot attempts and allow 34.0 shots per game. That matches last season's club, which gave up 3.83 goals per game with a 46.9% shot-attempt share and a 71.5% penalty kill. Vancouver also loses Jake DeBrusk to illness tonight, a new absence that its first two games don't reflect. DeBrusk led the club with 24 power-play points last season. That thins the one area where the Canucks hold a clear edge: a 21.8% power play against Calgary's 80.4% kill. The risk is Calgary's offense. It produced 2.54 goals per game last season and plays tonight without Jonathan Huberdeau and Connor Zary. Vancouver's defensive numbers give that group room to work. At an even price, I'll take the confirmed goalie with the better track record and the team that drove play in its opener.