Canadiens vs Flyers Betting Matchup: Montreal Can Exploit Philadelphia
Bet Against Philadelphia as Favorite
Flyers Favored on NHL Lines as the Home Team
After a surprising start to the NHL 2023-24 season, the Philadelphia Flyers are beginning to slow down. The Flyers have now lost seven of their last nine games. This team may be declining although the Canadiens vs Flyers betting matchup shows them as home favorites. Montreal may just have the style to extend the Flyers’ woes. We may just bet against Philadelphia given the lines and their recent records.
Canadiens vs Flyers Information 
Records: Montreal Canadiens (17-17-5) vs Philadelphia Flyers (20-14-6)
Day/Time:
Location: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
Stream: NSPA, NHL Network
Are the Flyers Slowly Unraveling?
John Tortorella-coached teams tend to start strong but ultimately get worn down and collapse. Are we seeing the beginning of the end for Philadelphia? The Flyers begin to fall in the NHL standings after a series of tough losses. Philadelphia has outshot its opponents to no avail.
Philadelphia is still 9-5 (9-3-2) at home when outshooting opponents. Still, Philadelphia is also just 5-5 (5-4-1) as a favorite. And Montreal is 13-6 on the puck line when playing as a visitor. We’re sensing a tricky situation for Flyers backers here, especially given the team’s offensive limitations.
The Flyers are averaging under 2.7 goals per home game. That is 28th in the NHL despite putting up nearly 35 shots a game. Philadelphia has scored three goals or fewer in all but one of its last 10 home games. Their record in this span is 4-6 (4-5-1). Only two wins came in regulation and by no more than one goal.
It’s also why NHL scores have trended ‘under’ on the total: four of the last five home games. In this sense, we’re laying -185 on a team that struggles to score and put away its opponents. In the end, a win is a win. But how much would bettors want to sweat a bet for Philadelphia?
Philadelphia is up over four units overall. But it’s made most of its backers money as underdogs. And at home, the Flyers are a losing team as far as profitability. Abstinence could be the most prudent action here based on the Canadiens vs Flyers betting matchup.
Canadiens Have Been Money Against the Flyers
And on the flip side, we have Montreal, which has been profitable against Philadelphia. The Canadiens are 4-2 in their last six games versus the Flyers and are 4-1 in their last five trips to Philly. On top of that, Montreal’s offense is clicking on the road. The “Habs” have scored 3+ goals in 10 of their last 12 road games. Montreal went 7-5 (7-4-1) in this span.
It’s partly why the total in this Canadiens vs Flyers betting matchup is juiced to go ‘over’ six goals: -115. The total has gone over in five of Montreal’s last six road games and in seven of its last eight games in total. Against Philadelphia, four of their last five meetings produced similar results.
It depends then on how “generous” Philadelphia will be when hosting Montreal. The Flyers have surrendered three or more goals in seven of their last 10 games. Carter Hart, who is likely going to be in goal for Philadelphia, has also started to struggle recently.
The young star is just 1-2-0 in January having allowed 11 goals on the 99 shots he’s faced. Additionally, he’s been subpar facing conference opponents: 3-6-2 with an 89.6% save percentage and a 3.31 goals-against average.
That won’t cut it when facing Montreal, an NHL team that ranks above average in shooting percentage (10.8%) as a visitor. Montreal does not generate many scoring chances (25). But it won’t need to if it can convert on a few of them.
The Canadiens are unlikely to win anything given their Stanley Cup odds. But this team is 4-4 as a road underdog against fellow Eastern Conference opponents. That’s worth betting at +160.
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