The NHL slate for today includes nine games, highlighted by a nationally televised doubleheader on ESPN. The Buffalo Sabres face the Tampa Bay Lightning while the San Jose Sharks battle the Colorado Avalanche. However, keen bettors should focus on the Utah Hockey Club's matchup against the Detroit Red Wings and the Calgary Flames taking on the Dallas Stars.

The UHC has shown solid form, recently signing players like Karel Vejmelka and Ian Cole, while the Red Wings struggle with offense despite a strong defense. The Flames need to improve their road performance against a dominant Stars team that has been scoring at will. The suggested bets are for Utah to win and the total goals to be under 6.5, with the Flames vs. Stars game expected to go over 5.5.

The Dallas Stars, positioned second in the Central Division with a 40-19-2 record, are set to clash with the Calgary Flames, who sit fourth in the Pacific Division at 29-23-9. After a thrilling game that saw Thomas Harley score a last-minute winner against the New Jersey Devils, the Stars are on a three-game winning streak. Conversely, the Flames also come off a win, decisively beating the Philadelphia Flyers 6-3.

In this matchup, the Stars look to continue their strong performance after previously defeating the Flames 6-2 in their first meeting of the season. The Flames' recent statistics reveal a concerning -20 scoring differential, having allowed more goals than they scored this season. Stars' star players include Jason Robertson, who has scored 25 goals and made 36 assists, while Harley enters the game with a four-game point streak.

As the NHL trade deadline approaches, the Buffalo Sabres find themselves in a precarious position at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Among potential trade candidates, forward Dylan Cozens stands out. The 24-year-old center has been linked to several teams, notably the Calgary Flames, who are eager to bolster their offensive lineup. Despite a down year, Cozens remains a valuable asset, highlighted by his impressive 31 goals and 68 points in the previous season.

If the Flames can secure Cozens, he would likely slot into a second-line role alongside players like Joel Farabee and Blake Coleman, enhancing Calgary's power play options. However, the Sabres are under no obligation to rush a trade, as Cozens is under contract until 2029-30, giving them leverage in negotiations.

The Calgary Flames dominated the Philadelphia Flyers with a solid 6-3 victory, highlighted by a powerful first period where they scored four goals. Connor Zary led the charge with a pair of goals, opening the scoring and then doubling the lead shortly afterwards. Despite the Flyers' Noah Cates and Andrei Kuzmenko narrowing the gap, the Flames responded with strikes from Yegor Sharangovich and MacKenzie Weegar, solidifying their lead by the end of the second period. Sean Couturier made it interesting with a goal in the third, but Matt Coronato sealed the game with an empty-net score.

Connor Zary's standout performance, with two goals, propelled the Calgary Flames to a decisive 6-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. In a spectacular display, Nazem Kadri contributed a goal within a 1:52 span during the first period, showcasing a potent Flames offense that surged early. Alongside Zary and Kadri, Yegor Sharangovich, MacKenzie Weegar, and Matt Coronato added to the scoreboard, with Dustin Wolf making 26 saves to secure the win. The Flyers struggled defensively, replacing Samuel Ersson after a rocky start, while Noah Cates, Andrei Kuzmenko, and Matvei Michkov netted goals for Philadelphia.

The Flames reversed their previous fortunes, having lost three consecutive games and only managed a single goal during that stretch. Their explosive first-period performance, featuring four goals in just over two minutes, underlines a significant turnaround. The Flyers, on the other hand, continued to struggle, securing only three wins since returning from the 4 Nations Face-Off break. With this victory, the Flames look to maintain momentum heading into their next matchup against the Dallas Stars.