GDT Game # 63 - Montreal Canadiens @ Calgary Flames - Saturday, March 8th, 2025 @ 7:00 PM EST

[xXx..CK..xXx]

Montreal continues their Western Canada road trip today in Calgary after what in my personal opinion will have been their toughest opponent on the road trip in Edmonton.
 

Today’s Matchup

 

Montreal Canadiens @ Calgary Flames - Saturday, March 8th @ 7:00 PM - Scotiabank Saddledome

 

 

Montreal Canadiens Lineup

 

Caufield - Suzuki - Slafkovský

Newhook - Beck - Anderson

Pezzetta  - Dvorak - Gallagher

Heineman - Evans - Armia

 

Matheson - Carrier

Struble - Hutson

Xhekaj - Savard

Dobeš

Montembeault

 

 

 

Calgary Flames 

 

Huberdeau - Kadri - Coronato

Coleman - Backlund - Farabee

Sharangovich - Frost - Pospisil

Lomberg - Rooney - Zary

 

Hanley - Weegar

Bahl - Andersson

Bean - Pachal

Wolf

Vladar

 

 

 

Storyline:

 

Both teams enter the contest 1 point out of a playoff spot. There couldn’t be a more meaningful game for both teams than this one at this juncture of the season.

 

Calgary’s situation:

 

 

Montreal’s situation:

 

Less than 10 days ago, Calgary was mired in an extreme goal scoring drought where they were shutout in consecutive games 3-0, 3-0 against Tampa Bay and Florida respectively. The following game, Nazem Kadri ended their goal scoring droubt but Calgary still found themselves on the losing end of a 2-1 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. 

 

Since then, the flames scored 6 goals in a 6-3 win over the Flyers and 2 goals in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Dallas stars. 
 

While the Flames have gained points in their last 3 games, they thankfully got their law of averages game out of the way against Philadelphia. Should the Habs play relatively stingy D, scoring may be difficult for Calgary which could be the type of solid road game a team needs to be able to play in order to get wins and earn points away from home

 

On Calgary, look for their first line to be their biggest threat. 

 

Montreal on the other hand has been playing themselves into a playoff spot rather than out. 
 

They are coming off of a 5 game win streak since the 4 Nations Cup break ended and have accumulated important points in each of their 6 games in that timeframe. 
 

Nick Suzuki has been on a heater with 13 points (4g, 9a) in those 6 games since the break. Having been shutout last game, he is due to rebound today.

 

 

Tonight looks to be an exciting contest. Both teams are in similar positions and remained fairly quiet during the trade deadline despite their standing. Management has put faith into their teams, and now it is up to the players to deliver. On a Saturday night, none the less.

 

Previous meeting:

 

Nov 5, 2024: Calgary 3 - 2 Montreal (OT)

 

Our last 10 games against Calgary has been a rather streaky affair. Calgary has won the last 3 games, the Habs won 5 in a row prior to that, and then Calgary the next two. Let’s hope to start the streak in our favour today. 
 

 

 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

Suzuki with another 4 point night

 

 

[hab29RETIRED]

Looking forward to this game. Will be there with my son. We have seats in the lower bowl, 1st row just to the right of the home side. So we will be on the Habs attack zone for two periods.

 

First chance to see Hutson live. Hopefully he will get a 2-3 point game and the first line racks up some points.

 

Will be pulling out my Habs away jersey that I haven’t worn in a long time Mitchell & Ness vintage 1992-93 season, Patrick Roy all star jersey, with the Roy “the wink” socks!  My son will be wearing a Price jersey.

[hab29RETIRED]

BTW, the game is today - not Sunday.

[xXx..CK..xXx]

Thanks. Originally I didn’t put a day of the week but then edited one in quickly without a second thought.

 

Enjoy the game! I’m sure you’ll be impressed. I’ve been to a few games this year and Hutson never fails to impress. He always brings something to each game. The team also has great chemistry this year and it’s still there despite them missing Dach and Guhle.

[Prime Minister Koivu]

 

[DON]

[xXx..CK..xXx]

Laine out, Anderson playing on second line and Pezzetta on the third. Dobeš in net.

[xXx..CK..xXx]

Dobeš has made some great saves early. Hopefully we can keep the Flames at bay, weather the storm and then change the momentum in our favour as the game progresses. 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

Calgary is outplaying Montreal but Dobes has been excellent   
 

4 lousy shots 💩

[xXx..CK..xXx]

Power play time. 
 

No Laine, but let’s find another way. Cole will do. 

[xXx..CK..xXx]

Make that 16 straight penalty kills for Calgary. 

[GHT120]

W-T-F was Newhook doing between Struble and Dobeš?

[sbhatt]

Terrible effort outside of the last minute and change of the 2nd.  Dobes has held them in...hope they find a way in the 3rd.

[Prime Minister Koivu]

Montreal has chased this game since it started. 
 

One strong shift by the Suzuki line at the end but other than that it’s been all Calgary. 
 

A Caufield PP goal to start the third would be amazing

[BCHabnut]

Calgary defense has been fantastic tonight. Fun last 2 minutes.

[Prime Minister Koivu]

Habs made the third period entertaining at least. Both Dobes and Wolf were outstanding 

[sbhatt]

Played like bums for the first 38min of the game.  It's hard to win when you squander that much time.

[xXx..CK..xXx]

Slaf had a poor game. He was the graveyard for chances tonight. Wiffed shots on a few golden opportunities and turned the puck over too easily.

[DON]

 

10 Thoughts: Flames shut out the Habs 1-0 in Calgary – HabsWorld.net

"Third Star: Jakub Dobes (24 shots, 23 saves, .958 save %, 1.48 GSAx) was outplayed by Wolf, but still played a strong game, making key saves time and again. He was well screened on the Farabee goal, however, and had little visibility of where the puck was headed."

 

Bottom Six Minutes: Habs lose a goaltending duel in Calgary

 

"True though this was a loss in a goaltending duel, you could not say that Dobes lost it for the Habs. Both goaltenders were stellar on Saturday night, and Wolf just happened to make one extra save. Expected goals at even-strength were 1.98-1.38 in favour of Montreal, so neither team was able to score as expected. Wolf made one extra save, and that was the difference."