Philadelphia Flyers vs. Montreal Canadiens Prediction, NHL Odds
The Montreal Canadiens look to seize sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division standings with a fourth straight win when they host the Philadelphia Flyers in Tuesday NHL betting action at Bell Centre.
The Canadiens extended their red-hot start to the season with Saturday’s 4-3 victory over Ottawa, and have claimed victory in four of their first five home dates. The Flyers visit Montreal on a two-game slide after falling 2-1 to Calgary on Sunday, and have yet to tally a win in three road contests this season.
The Canadiens lead the way as -160 favourites on the Tuesday NHL odds. The Flyers trail as +135 underdogs, but are a strong -180 bet on the NHL puckline. The total for Tuesday’s contest is pegged at 5.5.
Flyers vs. Canadiens NHL Betting Odds
The Canadiens aim to extend their recent dominance over the Flyers that has seen them claim victory in four of five meetings overall, and five of six on home ice at Bell Centre, capped by a 3-2 victory on April 5. The Habs have earned wins by multi-goal margins in two of their past three home matchups with Philly, limiting the Flyers to just two goals per game over that stretch.
Montreal now enters Tuesday’s action with a 9-3-0 record, leaving them deadlocked with the surprising Detroit Red Wings atop the divisional standings, but have seen seven of their past eight wins come by just a single goal, and each of the victories on their current 3-0-0 run come by a 4-3 margin. That has paid dividends for NHL totals bettors taking the OVER, which has paid out in four straight contests.
The Flyers will be playing their third game in four night for the second time in a week when they hit the ice for Tuesday’s matchup, and their busy early-season schedule may be taking its toll. The club mustered just eight shots on goal in Sunday’s loss to the Flames and have scored just three total goals during their current two-game swoon after scoring at least four goals in three of their previous five outings.
Philadelphia has particularly struggled on the road, scoring just five total goals during a 0-2-1 start to the season, and have posted just two wins in 19 away dates since January 18 while scoring over two goals just six times over that stretch.
Philadelphia Flyers
Acquired in an offseason deal with Anaheim, Trevor Zegas has enjoyed a hot start to the season. The 24-year-old centre leads the club with four goals and nine assists, but saw a four-game points streak end in Sunday’s loss to Calgary, and has recorded no goals and just one assists in three road appearances with Philly.
Tuesday night marks somewhat of a homecoming for Christian Dvorak, who spent four seasons in Montreal before signing with the Flyers this past summer. The veteran American centre has started to heat up after a slow start, scoring twice and adding two helpers over the past five games, but has yet to crack the scoresheet in three road outings.
The Flyers will be without Tyson Foerster on Tuesday after placing the talented winger on the IR with a lower body injury. Foerster had been steadily rounding into form with four goals and three assists.
Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens have needed overtime to seal their past two wins after blowing early leads in each of those contests. Overall, the Habs have allowed 19 total goals in the third period this season and have seen five of their victories come after 60 minutes. That is a trend that cannot continue against a stingy Flyers squad that ranks third in the NHL with just 31 total goals allowed so far this season.
Fortunately for the Habs, Cole Caufield has regained his touch after a brief scoring drought, scoring five times and tallying two assists over the past four games. Caufield has also opened the scoring in each of the past two games and is an intriguing +210 bet on the NHL player props to pot his first power play goal in 10 games.
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