Bell Centre is the site for an East-West showdown as the Calgary Flames take on the Montreal Canadiens. Reseau Des Sports will broadcast the action, which gets going at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 7.
Calgary Flames at Montreal Canadiens Odds
Calgary is 14-14 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 28 regular season matches, 14 of its games have gone over the total, while 12 have gone under and just one has pushed. The Flames are 7-6 SU on the road in 2017-18.
Calgary has converted on 21.1 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked 28th overall, and the teams successfully killed off only 76.3 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, Calgary has been penalized 4.0 times per game this season, and 2.8 per game over its last five games. The team has had to defend opponent power plays just 7.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 29.0 saves per game with a .918 save percentage, Mike Smith (13-12-2) has been the best option in goal for Calgary this year. Smith played last night, however, so the team might decide to rest him and go with Eddie Lack instead (1-3 record, .813 save percentage, 5.29 goals against average).
Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan will both be offensive focal points for the visiting Flames. Gaudreau has 36 points on 12 goals and 24 assists, and has recorded two or more points in 12 different games. Monahan has 15 goals and 13 assists to his credit, and has registered at least one point in 17 games.
Montreal is 13-16 straight up (SU) and has lost 5.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. 14 of its contests have gone over the total, while 13 have gone under and just two have pushed. It’s 8-8 SU at home this season.
Montreal has converted on 17.7 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 24th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 77.9 percent of all opponent power plays.
Montreal players have been sent to the penalty box 4.0 times per game in total this season, and 3.4 per game over their last five at home. The teams been forced to kill penalties just 7.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Carey Price has stopped 26.7 shots per game as the top choice in goal for Montreal. Price has eight wins, nine losses, and one overtime loss and has maintained a fairly-weak .903 save percentage and 3.00 goals against average this year.
Brendan Gallagher (13 goals, six assists) will lead the attack for the Canadiens.
Calgary Flames at Montreal Canadiens Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Flames, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Calgary is 2-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Montreal is 1-1 in shootouts.
- The total has gone over in three of Montreal’s last five games.
- This game features two clubs that have pounded opposing nets with shots. Calgary has taken the leagues ninth-most shots on goal (33.1) and Montreal has attempted the seventh-most (34.3).
- Over Calgary’s last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 2-4 in those games).
- The Canadiens this season have tallied the second-most hits per game (24.8), but that number has jumped up to 27.6 over their past five home games.
