Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers Prediction, NHL Odds
The Canadiens are coming off a decisive 5-2 victory in New Jersey on Tuesday night, and have earned the win in four of their past six overall. The Flyers return home after closing out a four-game Western road trip with Tuesday’s 4-2 loss in Edmonton that marks their fifth defeat in six overall contests.
The Flyers’ recent struggles at home, where they have lost six of their past seven, have failed to dim their prospects on the Friday NHL odds, where they have emerged as -157 favourites, while the Canadiens have faded to +131 underdogs since opening as a +127 wager. The total is unchanged since opening at 6.5, with the UNDER now favoured with -120 odds.
Canadiens vs. Flyers NHL Betting Odds
Friday night’s matchup at Wells Fargo Center marks the second of three scheduled meetings this season between these Eastern Conference rivals. The Canadiens eked out a 5-4 shootout win when they hosted the Flyers on November 19, and have now claimed victory in four of five head-to-head clashes. The Habs have also taken home two points in three of their past four visits to Montreal. With these clubs potted an average of 8.33 total goals over their past three matchups, the OVER is currently on a 3-0 run. However, the UNDER has paid out in four of their past five dates in Philadelphia.
Montreal Canadiens
After opening their current four-game road trip with blowout losses in Carolina and Toronto, the Canadiens made the most of their opportunities in Tuesday’s 5-2 win over the Devils. In addition to potting five goals on just 18 shots, the Habs were buoyed by a stellar performance by goaltender, who turned aside 38 of the 40 shots he faced, including 14 saves in the third period, to steal the win. Montembeault has emerged as a steady presence between the pipes, but with the NHL trade deadline just days away, the team’s decision to give Friday’s start to Jake Allen will only fuel speculation that Allen could soon be on the move. The veteran netminder was rocked for five goals on 41 shots faced in last weekend’s loss to the Leafs, and is now winless in five road appearances. Up front, Nick Suzuki snapped his recent scoring slump with a goal and an assist in New Jersey, but has not scored in consecutive outings since early December.
Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers enjoyed a fast start in Edmonton on Tuesday, seizing a 2-1 lead through 40 minutes, but wilted in the face of a 17-shot onslaught in the third period, on their way to a 4-2 defeat. Overall, Philly has struggled to contain opposing shooters of late, allowing 4.60 goals per game over their past five games. The club has been much stingier on home ice, allowing just eight total goals in regulation time over their past dates at Wells Fargo Center. However, the Flyers will need expected goaltender Carter Hart to bounce back from his recent shaky performances. Hart has taken the loss in each of his past four outings, and has allowed 11 total goals on just 66 total shots over his past three starts. The status of forward Travis Konecny remains uncertain for Friday. The Flyers’ leading scorer, Konecny missed Tuesday’s loss due to an upper body injury, and remains listed as day-to-day.
