Shea Weber, Tomas Tatar, and the Montreal Canadiens will face off against Sean Monahan, Johnny Gaudreau, and the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome in a cross-country showdown. This one gets underway at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 19 and it can be viewed live on The Sports Network.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Calgary Flames Odds
The Flames (-130) are favored over the Canadiens (+110) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-110 for the over, -110 for the under).
Losing 2.8 units for moneyline bettors, Calgary is 18-18 straight up (SU) overall in the 2019-20 season. That early-season winning percentage is a noticeable slide from what the team managed during last year’s regular season (50-32). 21 of the team’s 36 outings have gone under the total, while 12 have gone over and just three have pushed. This season, the team’s 10-7 SU at home.
The Flames have converted on 17.3 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked seventh overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 84.2 percent of all penalties.
Averaging 29.0 saves per game with a .914 save percentage, David Rittich (15-12-4) has been the primary option in goal for Calgary this season. If head coach Geoff Ward chooses to rest him, however, the team could go with Cam Talbot (3-7-7 record, .910 save percentage, 2.94 goals against average).
On the other bench, Montreal is 16-18 straight up (SU) and has lost 6.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. 16 of its games have gone over the total, while another 16 have gone under the total and just two have pushed. As the away team so far, the Canadiens are 8-7 SU.
The Canadiens have converted on 21.7 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 28th overall and it’s successfully defended 76.0 percent of all penalties.
Carey Price (.908 save percentage and 2.85 goals against average) has been the main option in goal for Montreal. Price is averaging 27.4 saves per game and has 14 wins, 13 losses, and three OT losses to his credit.
Montreal Canadiens at Calgary Flames Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Flames, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- The Canadiens are 2-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while the Flames are 3-0 in shootouts.
- The total has gone under in each of Montreal’s last five outings.
- Montreal’s attempted 34.9 shots per contest overall this season (the second-most in the NHL), and 36.1 in its last 10 outings.
- A majority (56.3 percent) of Montreal’s wins have come by two or more goals and the team is 9-8 overall in games decided by at least two scores. 8 of Calgary’s wins (44.4 percent) have been decided by two or more goals.
- Montreal skaters have accounted for the fourth-most hits in the league (28.2 per game).
