Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers: NHL Odds, Prediction
This is the second of three meetings between these teams. Montreal hosts Philadelphia for the only time this season next Monday. The Canadiens have won just four of their past 21 trips to Philadelphia.
Canadiens vs. Flyers Betting Analysis
Interesting scheduling that the Canadiens and Flyers play all three games against one another in the span of 18 February days. On Feb. 8, Montreal was a +140 underdog in Philly and lost 5-3. The teams alternated four goals in the second period, with Logan Shaw tying it at 18:49. The Flyers got early third-period goals from Jakub Voracek and Travis Konency to lead by two, but Brendan Gallagher cut it to 4-3 at 17:06. Ivan Provorov put it away at 19:04.
Philadelphia’s Claude Giroux was the No. 1 star with a goal and two assists, while Konency had two goals and Shayne Gostisbehere had three assists. Brian Elliott had 25 saves. Carey Price had 23. He is 13-11-0 with a 2.63 goals-against average and .915 save percentage in 25 career games vs. Philadelphia.
The Canadiens won’t have to worry about Elliott either in this game or next week’s matchup as the Flyers’ playoff chances took a major hit because Elliott had core muscle surgery last week and is expected to miss another month minimum. Elliott, signed as a free agent from Calgary this offseason, was 21-11-7 with a 2.72 GAA and .908 SV overall. But starting on Dec. 4 when he helped the Flyers end a 10-game losing streak (with a win in Calgary), Elliott had been 15-5-1 with a 2.51 GAA and .912 SV. It’s a big loss. Michal Neuvirth is/was (see below) the new No. 1. The Flyers could be looking for help in net by the February 26 trade deadline.
Montreal Canadiens
If the Canadiens (22-29-7) weren’t already a seller ahead of the trade deadline, they surely are now following a fifth straight loss Saturday, 6-3 at Vegas. Montreal, a league-worst 8-19-1 away from home, hasn’t scored more than three goals in any game during the skid. Antti Niemi gave up three goals on six shots before being replaced by Price midway through the first period. Max Pacioretty, one guy who is likely to be dealt, was held without a goal for the ninth straight game. He has just 35 points on the season, which still leads the team. The Canadiens are 29th in scoring. They could get back Andrew Shaw from a lower-body injury for this one. He was scheduled to practice Monday. Shaw hasn’t played since Jan. 13.
Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia (30-19-10) won its second straight game Sunday and sixth in the past seven, 7-4 at the New York Rangers. That’s the good news. The bad is that Neuvirth left with a lower-body injury. He was replaced by Alex Lyon, who stopped 25 of 26 shots for his first career NHL victory. If the Flyers already weren’t shopping for a goaltender in the wake of Elliott’s injury, they will be now if Neuvirth is out a while. Giroux had a goal and two assists against the Rangers. It was his 200th career goal, and he’s among the league leaders in points with 69.
