The Calgary Flames welcome the Montreal Canadiens to the Scotiabank Saddledome in what shapes up as a pivotal matchup for both teams' playoff aspirations, with the Flames clinging to the final Western Conference spot while Montreal sits just outside the Eastern bubble.
The contrast couldn't be starker between Calgary's stingy defense led by standout netminder Dustin Wolf's .913 save percentage and Montreal's struggling blue line that's allowing over 3.3 goals per game.
The Flames' home ice advantage could prove decisive as the defensive pairing of Weegar and Andersson looks to shut down Montreal's dynamic duo of Suzuki and Caufield when the home team faces off against their Original Six visitors.
Calgary Flames vs. Montreal Canadiens prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Calgary Flames vs Montreal Canadiens matchup, our predictive model gives the Flames a 65% chance of defeating the Habs.
Pre-game probabilities
Calgary Flames
Moneyline
Win %
65%
35%
Montreal Canadiens
Calgary Flames: 65% win probability
- Better defensive record (182 goals against vs Canadiens' 207)
- Higher league position (9th in Western Conference vs 10th in Eastern)
- More consistent goal scoring (163 goals scored in 62 games vs 186 in 62 games)
Montreal Canadiens: 35% win probability
- Poor defensive record (207 goals against, 5th worst in Eastern Conference)
- Inconsistent road performance (26 losses in 62 games)
- Negative goal differential (-21 compared to Flames' -19)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts. Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts..
| Calgary Flames | Montreal Canadiens | |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline |
Calgary Flames vs. Montreal Canadiens preview
The playoff race heats up at the Scotiabank Saddledome as the Flames host the Canadiens in what's shaping up to be a classic defense-versus-defense showdown.
Montreal's dynamic duo of Suzuki and Caufield have been lighting it up with a combined 121 points, but they'll face their toughest test yet against Calgary's brick wall defense led by Weegar and Andersson.
The Flames' netminder Dustin Wolf has been nothing short of spectacular, posting a .913 save percentage while frustrating opponents with his clutch saves.
While both teams have struggled to find the back of the net this season, Calgary's defensive corps has given them the edge, allowing just 2.92 goals per game compared to Montreal's leaky 3.31.
Keep your eyes on Flames' forwards Kadri and Huberdeau, who've been the bright spots in an otherwise tepid offense - they'll need to step up their game to break through Montreal's Matheson-Hutson defensive pairing.
The Saddledome crowd should witness a tight-checking, low-scoring affair that'll likely come down to which team can capitalize on their limited scoring chances.
Given the Flames' rock-solid defense and home-ice advantage, they might just have enough in the tank to edge out the Habs in this crucial late-season matchup.
Calgary Flames vs. Montreal Canadiens form
Calgary Flames vs. Montreal Canadiens head to head
Calgary Flames
50%
Montreal Canadiens
50%
Nov 6, 2024
Montreal Canadiens
2 : 3
Calgary Flames
Mar 16, 2024
Calgary Flames
5 : 2
Montreal Canadiens
Nov 15, 2023
Montreal Canadiens
1 : 2
Calgary Flames
Dec 13, 2022
Montreal Canadiens
2 : 1
Calgary Flames
Dec 2, 2022
Calgary Flames
1 : 2
Montreal Canadiens
Mar 4, 2022
Calgary Flames
4 : 5
Montreal Canadiens
