Calgary Flames Game Day 67: The annual visit from the Montreal Canadiens (5pm MT)

After a strong showing against Vegas, the Calgary Flames (32-29-5, 69 points) will look to keep that momentum going when they host an old foe, the Montreal Canadiens (25-30-11, 61 points). It’ll be a unique atmosphere at the Saddledome, with fans wearing two very different red jerseys with Cs on them, as these two classic 1980s rivals clash once again.

The broadcast begins at 5 p.m. MT on CBC, City TV and Sportsnet 960 The Fan. The Flames opened as -180 favourites against the Canadiens on Betway.

Projected lines via Daily Faceoff:

Mangiapane – Backlund – Coleman
Huberdeau – Kadri – Pospisil
Hunt – Sharangovich – Coronato
Pelletier – Rooney – Duehr

Kylington – Andersson
Weegar – Miromanov
Okhotiuk – Pachal

We’re projecting Dustin Wolf to start in net, backed up by Dan Vladar. We’re anticipating that the healthy extras for this game are Dennis Gilbert and Joel Hanley. We’re not anticipating any of the injured Flames rotating back in for this one, but we’ll find out for sure at warm-up – due to the early start time, there’s no morning skate scheduled.

Since Jan. 1, three Flames are in double-digits in goals: Yegor Sharangovich (17), Blake Coleman (15) and Nazem Kadri (12). Five players have scored multiple game-winners: those three, plus Jonathan Huberdeau and Rasmus Andersson. The Flames have gotten some pretty solid contributions from their youngsters throughout this season, but since the calendar turned over to 2024, their veterans have carried the mail.

As the Flames march forward, both this season and in their retooling process, these vets will need to continue to lead by example.

Projected lines courtesy Daily Faceoff:

Matheson – Guhle
Xhekaj – Savard
Harris – Struble

The projected starter is Cayden Primeau, backed up by Samuel Montembeault. The projected extra skaters are Johnathan Kovacevic, Jesse Ylonen and Michael Pezzetta.

It’s the first game of a five game western road trip for the Habs, who’ll face the three Canadian teams, plus Seattle and Colorado. They’re 11 points out of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference and they own that conference’s worst goal differential. They have a few promising youngsters, but the group just hasn’t been able to put it all together this season.

That said, the Habs are fully capable of stealing games here and there. They’re not the best defensive team in the league, but they have a few players capable of offensive magic at key times.

The Flames are without Dillon Dube, A.J. Greer, Connor Zary, Jacob Markstrom and Andrei Kuzmenko.

The Canadiens are without Christian Dvorak and Kirby Dach.

This is the season series finale between these clubs. The Flames beat Montreal back in November.