PREMIUM
Rogers' ICE BREAKER >> SIZZLING 30-16 Run!
(NHL) Montreal vs. Philadelphia,
Money Line: -155.00 Philadelphia (Home)
Result: Win
Money Line: -155.00 Philadelphia (Home)
Result: Win
The set;: The city of Philadelphia will honor the Super Bowl champion Eagles Thursday afternoon and tonight, the most recognizable tenants of Broad Street (the Flyers), will hope to keep the party going when they host the Montreal Canadiens. The Flyers snapped a four-game losing streak with Tuesday's 2-1 overtime victory at Carolina and at 25-19-9, the team's points moved them into the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.Montreal comes in off resounding victories over Anaheim and Ottawa over the weekend, answering a dismal 2-5-2 stretch by going 5-for-10 on the power play in wins of and, respectively.
Montreal: "Our power play got better because we stuck with it," Canadiens head coach Claude Julien told the Montreal Gazette. "All the pain that we went through earlier on is starting to pay off." Shea Weber skated before Wednesday's practice, marking the first time he's done so since Dec. 16 as he nurses a right foot injury. "It's good to get him back on the ice. It's been quite a while. It's good to know he's getting better," fellow defenseman Victor Mete said of the 32-year-old, who has 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 26 games and is averaging 25:20 of ice time. The 22-25-6 Canadiens (just 50 points) have struggled since losing top defenseman Shea Weber to a foot injury. They have gone 7-10-2 in 19 games without Weber, dropping out of playoff contention. Goalie Carey Price certainly has missed Weber, especially on the road as the former Hart and Vezina Trophy winner sports a 4-12-0 mark with a 3.23 goals-against average in 16 encounters outside of the Bell Centre this season.
Philadelphia: Jakub Voracek extended his assist and point streak to six games by setting up Wayne Simmonds' goal in the second period on Tuesday, giving him two goals and seven assists in that stretch. He leads the NHL with 52 assists. The 25-19-9 Flyers (59 points) keep toggling in and out of playoff position. The return of goaltender Brian Elliott should help their chances of climbing the Eastern Conference standings. Elliott made 27 saves on Tuesday in his return from a four-game absence due to an undisclosed injury and boasts a 6-3-1 career mark with two shutouts against Montreal.
The pick: I've already noted Price's poor road (see above) and the entire team checks in at 8-15-1 on the road, allowing 3.33 GPG. It's a big day for The City of Brotherly Love and after that Super Bowl parade for the Eagles, I don't expect the Flyers to "rain on the parade." make Philly an 8* play.
Montreal: "Our power play got better because we stuck with it," Canadiens head coach Claude Julien told the Montreal Gazette. "All the pain that we went through earlier on is starting to pay off." Shea Weber skated before Wednesday's practice, marking the first time he's done so since Dec. 16 as he nurses a right foot injury. "It's good to get him back on the ice. It's been quite a while. It's good to know he's getting better," fellow defenseman Victor Mete said of the 32-year-old, who has 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 26 games and is averaging 25:20 of ice time. The 22-25-6 Canadiens (just 50 points) have struggled since losing top defenseman Shea Weber to a foot injury. They have gone 7-10-2 in 19 games without Weber, dropping out of playoff contention. Goalie Carey Price certainly has missed Weber, especially on the road as the former Hart and Vezina Trophy winner sports a 4-12-0 mark with a 3.23 goals-against average in 16 encounters outside of the Bell Centre this season.
Philadelphia: Jakub Voracek extended his assist and point streak to six games by setting up Wayne Simmonds' goal in the second period on Tuesday, giving him two goals and seven assists in that stretch. He leads the NHL with 52 assists. The 25-19-9 Flyers (59 points) keep toggling in and out of playoff position. The return of goaltender Brian Elliott should help their chances of climbing the Eastern Conference standings. Elliott made 27 saves on Tuesday in his return from a four-game absence due to an undisclosed injury and boasts a 6-3-1 career mark with two shutouts against Montreal.
The pick: I've already noted Price's poor road (see above) and the entire team checks in at 8-15-1 on the road, allowing 3.33 GPG. It's a big day for The City of Brotherly Love and after that Super Bowl parade for the Eagles, I don't expect the Flyers to "rain on the parade." make Philly an 8* play.
