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Montreal Canadiens vs. Calgary Flames Matchup 11/15/18

Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens, fueled by Max Domi and Tomas Tatar, are ready to take the ice against Sean Monahan, Johnny Gaudreau, and the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome in an East-West showdown. Sportsnet West will showcase the game, and the opening face-off is at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 15.

Montreal Canadiens at Calgary Flames Odds

Playing the role of favorites will be the Flames (-150), whereas the Canadiens are dogs offering moneyline odds of +130, and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).

Earning 1.6 units for moneyline bettors, Calgary is 10-8 straight up (SU) overall thus far. That win percentage, ranked first in the Pacific Division so far in the early season, is a welcomed improvement compared to how the team performed during last year’s regular season (37-45). Of the team’s 18 games this season, nine have gone over the total, while another nine have gone under and none have pushed. The team is 4-3 SU at home this year.

The Flames have converted on just 15.9 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that places them in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 22nd overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 77.2 percent of all penalties.

Averaging 23.1 saves per game with a .877 save percentage, Mike Smith (5-7-1) has been the primary option in goal for Calgary this season. If head coach Bill Peters decides to give him the night off, however, Calgary might turn to David Rittich (5-3-3 record, .935 save percentage, 1.91 goals against average).

On the visitors’ side of the ice, Montreal is 9-9 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 1.6 units this season. A total of 10 of its matches have gone over the total, while seven have gone under the total and just one has pushed. As the visiting team, the Canadiens are 3-5 SU so far.

The Canadiens have converted on just 13.2 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that places them in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked ninth overall and it’s successfully defended 82.5 percent of all penalties.

Carey Price (3.07 goals against average and .892 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Montreal. Price is averaging 25.5 saves per game and has five wins, seven losses, and three OT losses to his credit.

Montreal Canadiens at Calgary Flames Betting Picks

Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Canadiens, O/U – Over

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Notes

Betting Notes

60.0 percent of Calgary’s wins have come by two or more goals (the team is 6-5 overall in such games) while 44.4 percent of Montreal’s wins have come by two goals or more (4-5 overall in such games).

Power plays and penalty kills could be critical in the outcome of this one. The Canadiens are 3-4 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 5-5 when they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 total minutes. The Flames are 5-3 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 8-6 in games where they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.

The over has hit in each of Montreal’s last five games.

Montreal skaters have averaged 8.0 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 11.5 giveaways per game (ranked 26th in the NHL).

Calgary is ranked 26th this season with 11.8 giveaways per game. That figure has regressed, as it’s averaged 13.2 giveaways over its last 10 games and 15.2 giveaways over its last five.

Montreal skaters have given out the league’s second-most hits per game (26.9), but that number’s down to just 23.2 hits over their last five away games.

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Written by GMS Previews

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