Canadiens vs Flames 03/11/21 – Odds and NHL Betting Trends
3 years ago
by OddsShark (@OddsShark) – Sponsored Post
The Calgary Flames will have a golden opportunity to climb back into the race for a playoff spot in the North Division when they open a two-game series with the visiting Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night as slim -115 home favourites on the NHL odds at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Calgary saw its recent slump get extended last time out, dropping a 4-3 shootout decision to the Ottawa Senators, and now lags six points back of fourth-place Montreal going into Thursday night’s matchup at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Canadiens vs Flames | OddsShark Matchup Report
The Flames face a huge challenge as the team reaches the midway point in its regular season schedule this week. Calgary has fallen to defeat in nine of its past 13 outings. That includes their current two-game slide overall, and disappointing performances at home, where they have picked up two points just once in their past four contests.
Now positioned just six points ahead of the basement-dwelling Senators, the Flames sit well off the pace on the odds to win the North Division where they have tumbled to a distant +3500 wager at online sports betting sites. With its season hanging in the balance, the team has turned to Darryl Sutter, who is set to make his first appearance behind the bench after replacing Geoff Ward after he was fired last week.
Sutter reportedly made his mark quickly in his first practice with the team this week, signaling his expectations of an improved work ethic by subjecting players to a grueling bag skate. However, it remains to be seen whether those tactics will spark a moribund Flames offense.
While Calgary shooters enjoyed a big night in the first of two home meetings with Ottawa, marching to a 7-3 win on the eve of Ward’s dismissal, they have been unable to maintain that momentum. The Flames have managed to score more than two goals just five times in their past 13 contests, and have seen six of their past eight defeats come by multi-goal margins.
That trend extends to the team’s two-game series with the Canadiens at the Bell Centre in late January. The Flames mustered just four total games during that set, but still came away with a split on the strength of goalie Jacob Markstrom’s stellar performance in a 2-0 victory.
The Canadiens are set as -105 underdogs for Thursday night after wrapping up a two-game series in Vancouver with a decisive 5-1 win on Wednesday. Like the Flames, Montreal has struggled to find consistent form while losing 10 of 15 outings. However, the team has picked up at least a point in eight of its past nine contests, outscoring opponents by a wide 19-9 margin over its past five outings.
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