The Calgary Flames and Montreal Canadiens square off Monday night at Bell Centre in Montreal for the second and final meeting of the regular season.
The Flames are wrapping up a three-game road trip in Montreal, and it has not been an enjoyable journey so far. Calgary lost 3-1 in Columbus against the Blue Jackets and old buddy Johnny Gaudreau Friday, before losing a 5-4 track meet in overtime in Toronto Saturday.
The Canadiens are looking to wash the bad taste out of their collective mouths following a 4-2 loss at home against the Los Angeles Kings Saturday.
Will the Flames be able to exact a little revenge after falling 2-1 against the Canadiens at home? Find out in our NHL picks and predictions below.
Flames vs Canadiens best odds
Flames vs Canadiens picks and predictions
The Flames have managed just 30 points through 28 games, which is not what this team envisioned during the offseason. Calgary opened up the coffers to bring in prized free agent Nazem Kadri, as well as a huge trade to acquire Jonathan Huberdeau and Mackenzie Weegar. While Kadri has been fine, Huberdeau has had a little trouble adjusting to his new home in the Great White North.
And all of the Flames are having difficulty adjusting to life when the team is on the road. Calgary has managed to go just 3-6-3 away from the Scotiabank Saddledome, and the team has a -1 goal differential overall, which suggests this team is rather mediocre.
Not many people expected much from the Canadiens, but this team is holding their own in the ultra-competitive Atlantic Division with a winning overall record, although a -14 goal differential obviously needs a little work.
Unlike the Flames, the Habs have actually been better on the road, going 7-5-2, while Montreal is just 6-7-0 in front of the home faithful.
Both of these teams have trouble lighting the lamp, with Montreal managing just 82 goals to date, the fourth-lowest in the Eastern Conference. Calgary has just 86 goals, well behind the contenders in the Western Conference.
The best play on the board is Under, especially if you can get it at 6.5.
My best bet: Under 6.5 (-143 at SportsInteraction)
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Flames vs Canadiens moneyline analysis
The Flames cashed on the puck line in the OT loss in Toronto Saturday, but are the considerable favorite in this road battle. As a favorite in Columbus, Calgary didn’t even win outright and is just 2-3 in the past five as a favorite on the puck line.
One of those losses came in the first meeting with the Canadiens at home, as the Flames were -286 favorites at Scotiabank Saddledome, only to fall 2-1.
The Habs find themselves as the underdogs on home ice. Montreal is 3-2 on the puck line as an underdog across the past five, although i's 0-4 in the past four as a home dog on the puck line dating back to its most recent cover on November 12 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Calgary hasn’t had a case of the Mondays in recent seasons, going 11-1 in the past 12 games played on the day. Use that for whatever it’s worth, which isn’t much, but it is still worth noting, nonetheless.
More importantly, the Flames are 29-13 in the previous 42 games against losing teams dating back to last season. However, the Flames are a dismal 5-16 in the past 21 games on the road, and that’s why it’s best to shy away from playing the side here.
The Canadiens do have a case of the Mondays, going 2-6 in their past eight Monday contests. More importantly, Montreal is just 13-38 in the past 51 tries against Western Conference teams, while going 7-19 in the past 26 against Pacific Division teams.
Still, the Habs have won four in a row against the Flames, including the first meeting this season in Calgary. The trends are all over the board so I'd suggest staying away and focusing on the total.
Flames vs Canadiens Over/Under analysis
It’s all about the Under, especially since the Flames are playing their third game in four days. The Under is 7-1-1 in the past nine in the third game of a 3-in-4 day situation.
The Under has also hit in the past five on the road for the Flames, where they have had considerable difficulty for a so-called contender. In fact, the Habs have scored just eight goals scored in the past five on the road, or 1.6 goals per game.
The Under has cashed at a 6-2 clip across the past eight games overall while hitting at a 5-2 rate in the previous seven against Western Conference foes.
Montreal has lit the lamp just four times in the past three games in front of the home fans, so again, the lean is to the Under here, and it might not even be that much of a sweat.
Flames vs Canadiens betting trend to know
The Under is 6-1-1 in the previous eight meetings in Montreal while going 12-5-2 in the previous 19 in the series overall, including a 2-1 win by the Canadiens on December 1. Find more NHL betting trends for Flames vs Canadiens.
Flames vs Canadiens game info
| Location: | Bell Centre, Montreal, QC |
| Date: | Monday, December 12, 2022 |
| Puck drop: | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | RDS, Sportsnet |
Flames vs Canadiens key injuries
