Calgary Flames vs Montréal Canadiens Picks and Predictions March 8th 2025

Calgary Flames vs Montréal Canadiens March 8th 2025

The Canadiens and Flames are set to face off at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The Flames will host the game at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. This non-conference matchup has an over/under of 5.5 goals, and the Flames are favored by -1.5 against the Canadiens.

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Montreal vs. Calgary Key Information

Montreal’s latest game ended in a 3-1 road loss to the Penguins, bringing their record to 30-27-6. The Canadiens entered as underdogs on the puck line, and the total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score of 4 fell short of that mark.

After falling behind 2-0, Montreal got on the board in the third period with a goal from Christian Dvorak. However, the Penguins sealed the win with an empty-net goal later in the period.

Montreal’s offense struggled in their 3-1 loss to Pittsburgh, with Christian Dvorak scoring his first goal of the season at 14:28 in the third period. Juraj Slafkovsky picked up his seventh assist, while Emil Heineman added his first assist of the year.

The Canadiens fired 26 shots on goal but were hindered by 20 giveaways. They failed to convert on the power play and were shut out through the first two periods before Dvorak’s goal.

Montreal’s defense gave up the first two goals of the game, with the first coming at 15:57 in the first period and the second at 18:40 in the second. The Canadiens closed the gap to 2-1 in the third, but an empty net goal from Pittsburgh sealed the game at 3-1. Goalie Sam Montembeault made 21 saves with a 91.3% save percentage, and the defense added 4 takeaways and 28 hits.

Calgary dropped to 29-24-10 after a 4-2 road loss to the Oilers. The Flames were underdogs on the puck line, and the total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, with the combined score of 6 falling just short of that mark.

After falling behind 2-0, Calgary tied it up with goals from Anthony Mantha and Yegor Sharangovich. However, Edmonton responded with two more goals, including an empty-netter, to secure the win.

Calgary took 31 shots on goal but only found the net twice in a 4-2 loss to Edmonton. Anthony Mantha scored his fourth goal of the season on a power play in the second period, while Yegor Sharangovich added his first goal of the year in the third.

The Flames had 22 giveaways and scored their second goal 4:28 into the third period. Tyson Barrie picked up his first assist of the season, and Mikael Backlund added his fourth assist on Mantha’s power-play goal.

Defensively, the Flames will look to bounce back after allowing four goals to the Oilers. They gave up the first two goals of the game and two more in the 3rd period, including an empty-netter. Dan Vladar made 27 saves with a 90% save percentage. The defense recorded 4 takeaways and 13 hits.

When it comes to a moneyline wager, I’m going with the Canadiens to defeat the Flames while playing on the road. Given the current moneyline odds at +115, I’m placing a wager on the Canadiens to win outright.

If you’re looking to get a bet down on this matchup, we foresee the Canadiens winning the underdog. However, if you’re not as confident in the Canadiens straight-up, we’d still recommend placing a bet on them to cover the puck line.

With an over/under line sitting at 5.5 goals, we like this game to surpass that mark and recommend getting a bet down on the over.

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Flames, Canadiens Look to Rebound from Disappointing Defeats

The Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames find themselves in a similar situation as they prepare to face off Saturday night in Calgary. Both teams are in the thick of the playoff race following the trade deadline and are looking to bounce back from frustrating extra-time losses.

Canadiens Earn Hard-Fought Point in Edmonton

Montreal suffered a 3-2 overtime defeat to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday, erasing one-goal deficits twice before falling just short.

“That was a big point,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. “We played extremely well, and it was nothing perfect, but we played with the right intentions, we played with conviction. The guys fought; it could have gone either way. We got our chances to get the two points; it just didn’t happen, but I loved the way we played.”

The Canadiens had been on a five-game winning streak before the loss, a run that pulled them into the tight Eastern Conference wild-card race alongside the Columbus Blue Jackets, Ottawa Senators, New York Rangers, and Detroit Red Wings.

Cole Caufield extended his point streak to six games (five goals, two assists) with a goal against the Oilers but was left unsatisfied.

“It was a huge point, but not really satisfied with that,” Caufield said. “Leon (Draisaitl) scored, and Connor (McDavid) makes a play in OT. They’re good players; we limited their chances, but at the end of the day, they find a way.”

Flames Let Another Lead Slip Away

The Flames return home after a 3-2 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars on Thursday to close out a six-game road trip. Calgary held a 2-0 lead, including a one-goal advantage in the third period, before ultimately falling in the shootout.

“We played a good game. … I thought we did a really good job right away,” Flames captain Mikael Backlund said. “We played a solid game all night. … It’s a tough one, but we have to move on. Tomorrow is a new day, and we have to focus on the next game and try to win that one.”

Despite finishing the trip with a 2-2-2 record, Calgary remains in the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot. However, the team has just one win in its past five outings.

Urgency Ramps Up for Playoff Push

With 20 games left in the regular season, both teams are looking for consistency in their playoff pursuit. For Flames coach Ryan Huska, simply playing at a .500 level won’t be enough.

“We need more than .500 the rest of the way. I feel like if we are going to get ourselves to where we want to be, but these were tough teams that we played,” Huska said. “There was a lot of miles put on this trip for us, and for the last game of the trip to play against a team of their quality, I was pleased with the guys’ preparation and their work ethic, so we will take it. Now the most important game of the year becomes our next one.”

With both teams eager to strengthen their playoff positions, Saturday’s showdown promises to be an intense battle.

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