The Calgary Flames will play the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL on Monday (December 12).
Calgary have had a decent run, but they have lost their last two games. They are fifth in the Western Conference Pacific Division with 30 points and are in a great position to cover the gap in the standings.
Montreal, meanwhile, are coming off a loss. They're in the bottom half of the Eastern Conference Atlantic with 28 points and need wins to stay in the run for a top-four finish.
Flames vs Canadiens Odds
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Flames vs Canadiens Match Details
Fixture: Flames vs. Canadiens
Date & Time: Monday, December 12, 2022; 7 pm EDT
Venue: Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
Flames vs Canadiens Key Stats
Calgary's offense has been average this season but has done better in the latter half with Tyler Toffoli and Nazem Kadri contributing with 21 goals. The team will need similar performances and could see a few changes as they look to improve it.
Their defense has been decent this season and requires changes but needs to step up to make a bigger impact in games. They also need better performances from the goaltenders who have performed below their caliber.
Montreal's offense, meanwhile, has been dependent on Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield to score most of their goals, with both scoring over 14 goals apiece. It has lacked contributions from the rest of the players, which the team needs to address soon.
Their defense has not performed well, putting them under a lot of pressure. Conceding over 95 goals in 27 games has shown the issues plaguing the team, especially on defense, which needs to be rectified.
Flames vs Canadiens Betting Prediction
The game is going to be an interesting one, as both teams have had poor results in the last few games, making it a must-win game for both.
Calgary have performed well in the second half, but there has been a dip in their performances, especially because of their defense. They have not performed well against Montreal, which increases their concerns.
While Montreal would fancy their chances against the vulnerable defense of Calgary, having a better head-to-head record also puts them in good stead. As both offenses need improvements, we can expect this to be a close game, with Montreal covering the spread with a better team performance.