Calgary Flames vs. Montreal Canadiens Prediction, NHL Odds
These teams won’t play again until opening a two-game set March 11 in Calgary. The Flames are back in Montreal starting April 14. Calgary has yet to win on the road this year, albeit only two games.
Flames vs. Canadiens 1/30/21 Betting Analysis
The Canadiens’ 4-2 win Thursday was their sixth straight victory in the series but it was the first time in seven games that the favourite won. The total was set at six goals so that was a push; the under is now 3-0-1 in the past four overall in Montreal.
On the updated futures odds at Sports Interaction, Montreal is a +212 second favourite to win the all-Canadian North Division, behind Toronto (+129). Calgary is +800. To win the Cup, the Habs are +1000 and Flames +2800.
New addition Tyler Toffoli leads Montreal with nine points, and he’s +5500 to win the Rocket Richard Trophy but isn’t yet a betting option for the Art Ross Trophy. Johnny Gaudreau leads Calgary with eight points and is +5300 for the Art Ross and +8100 for the Rocket Richard.
Calgary Flames
At some point, the Flames had to give new No. 1 goaltender Jacob Markstrom a game off, and that happened Thursday as David Rittich he allowed four goals on 21 shots in the team’s third loss in a row. It surely will be Markstrom on Saturday. He’s 2-2-1 on the season with a 2.62 goals-against average and .911 save percentage. Down 4-0 in the third, the Flames got late goals from Milan Lucic (second of the season) and Rasmus Anderson (second; on power play).
Calgary allowed two power-play goals and the penalty kill is down to 76.2 per cent. Blueliner Dillon Dube missed his third in a row with a lower-body injury but did skate Thursday morning, so he may return here. The Flames are 0-6 in their past six vs. teams with a winning record.
Montreal Canadiens
Thursday was not only Montreal’s third straight win – in the team’s home opener — but all three have been by multiple goals. In fact, all five victories this season are by at least two goals and both losses went to at least overtime. Carey Price appeared on the way to a possible shutout Thursday but allowed a Lucic goal with 1:18 left and then the Habs were assessed a penalty for losing a challenge on the play. That led to a Calgary power play and the Anderson goal with 33 seconds remaining. Toffoli (sixth of season; shorthanded), Josh Anderson (fourth), Shea Weber (second; on power play) and Brendan Gallagher (third; on power play) had the Montreal goals.
Jonathan Drouin was the No. 1 star with two assists and Jesperi Kotkaniemi the No. 2 with two helpers. Corey Perry had an assist and is now one point shy of reaching the 800-point mark for his career. Montreal is 11-23 in its past 34 home games.
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