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Calgary Flames vs Montreal Canadiens Picks and Predictions – January 7, 2026
The Montreal Canadiens return home red-hot, while the Calgary Flames hit the road hoping to reset after back-to-back losses. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. ET Wednesday at the Bell Centre as two teams trending in opposite directions meet for the first time this season.
Montreal just wrapped a season-long seven-game road trip with a 4-3 overtime win in Dallas, going 4-1-2 over that stretch and climbing to third place in the Atlantic Division. The Habs have won eight of their last 13 overall and look confident heading into a key homestand.
Calgary, meanwhile, fell flat in a 5-1 home loss to Seattle on Monday and now heads east for a five-game trip. After fighting back to .500, the Flames have slipped again and remain near the bottom of the West standings. Their road record (6-13-2) tells most of the story.
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Calgary Flames vs Montreal Canadiens Odds
Check the latest NHL odds before betting, as line movement and goalie news can shift value.
| Team | Moneyline | Puck Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calgary Flames | +129 | +1.5 (-195) | O 6.0 (-115) |
| Montreal Canadiens | -152 | -1.5 (+158) | U 6.0 (-107) |
Calgary Flames Betting Form
The Flames had been building momentum through December but are now in danger of falling right back into the hole they spent weeks digging out of. Monday’s 5-1 collapse against Seattle was particularly frustrating — tied entering the third before giving up four straight.
The issue? Defense. Calgary has allowed 10 goals in its last two games, and now heads on the road where they’ve been outscored by nearly 1.3 goals per game. They’re 2-5 in their last seven overall and have fallen to 30th in the league standings.
Zayne Parekh rejoins the roster after a big performance at World Juniors, but he’s still developing defensively and likely won’t fix the Flames’ road woes immediately. The top line continues to create chances, but finishing has been inconsistent.
For full team trends, check the Calgary Flames stats and results. And for roster updates or injury concerns, monitor the Calgary Flames injury report.
Montreal Canadiens Betting Form
The Canadiens were one of the best teams in the NHL over the holidays and now get to bring that energy home. They went 4-1-2 on a tough road swing, beat Dallas in OT on Sunday, and are 8-2-3 in their last 13 overall. At the midway mark of the season, they sit firmly in playoff position.
Goaltending has improved, with Jakub Dobes, Sam Montembeault, and Jacob Fowler all playing a part. The biggest surge, though, has come from Juraj Slafkovsky, who has 12 points in his last eight games since joining a new-look second line with Oliver Kapanen and Ivan Demidov.
Montreal has won four straight at the Bell Centre, and that home ice edge should matter against a Calgary squad that hasn’t traveled well. The penalty kill has also been sharp — an important factor if this game turns into a grind.
For stats and form, check the Montreal Canadiens schedule and stats. Lineup changes and goalie confirmations will be on the Montreal Canadiens injury report.
Calgary Flames vs Montreal Canadiens Matchup Breakdown
These teams are moving in opposite directions. Montreal is surging, rested, and returning home, while Calgary is starting a five-game road trip after getting run over at home by Seattle. That’s not an ideal travel spot.
Montreal owns the special teams edge, has the hotter goaltending, and more consistency in their forward lines. Calgary’s top six can generate offense, but the gaps in their neutral zone coverage and penalty kill have hurt them badly on the road.
Expect Montreal to control the tempo 5-on-5. They’ve played structured, responsible hockey and have three lines producing. If the goaltending holds, the Canadiens should be able to handle business.
Need help evaluating team form and situational edges? Read our NHL betting guide for breakdowns on how to bet momentum spots like this.
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Calgary Flames vs Montreal Canadiens Predictions and Best Bets
Montreal is playing well, has the better goalie rotation, and is back in front of a home crowd after a road-heavy stretch. Calgary, meanwhile, continues to struggle away from home and just allowed five to Seattle on a night they badly needed a win.
This price still holds value under -160, and the matchup leans all point toward the Habs — team form, goaltending, special teams, and motivation. Slafkovsky’s line has become a real difference-maker and gives Montreal more balanced scoring depth.
The total is tricky. Calgary games tend to swing high or low with little middle ground. Lean Under 6.0 with Montreal likely trying to control pace and limit odd-man rushes.
Best Bet: Montreal Canadiens moneyline (-152).
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