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NHL Free Pick: Flyers vs. Canadiens Betting Odds & Handicapping Preview

NHL: Philadelphia vs Montreal Pick

Eastern Conference opponents will face off on Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday night when the Philadelphia Flyers (7-5-2) take on the conference leading Montreal Canadiens (12-4-1). Cappers Picks will provide free NHL picks all season so check back in often.

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Philadelphia vs Montreal
When: Saturday, Nov 15 2014 at 7:00 pm ET
Where: Bell Centre
TV: CBC
NHL ATS Gambling Line: Montreal -150 / Phili +145
NHL O/U Line: 5.5
***2014 BONUSES***
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The Montreal Canadiens will look to keep hold of their lead in the Atlantic Division when they take on the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night. The Habs are rolling right now and are on a four game winning streak.

The Flyers have been playing much better hockey of late as well and are on a three game winning streak of their own and are starting to close ground on the top teams in the Metropolitan Division.

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The Flyers do play on Friday night at home to Columbus so their win streak may be over before they take to the ice on Saturday, but this is being written before that game has been played.

Flyers

It seems to be a Flyers trait that they always stumble out of the gate. Philadelphia was once again slow to get their feet under them this season, dropping their first four games and posting an 0-2-2 record.

Since that time the Flyers are 7-3-0 and are afforded the luxury of being somewhat under the radar at the moment. Make no mistake though, this team is still a tough opponent for anyone on any night.

Top line tandem Claude Giroux and Jakob Voracek have been leading the charge for the Flyers, with 18 and 22 points respectively. Voracek is on pace for a career year and is tied for second in NHL scoring behind only Sidney Crosby.

Steve Mason will get the start Friday night against his former team the Columbus Blue Jackets, so Ray Emery may get the call Saturday night against the Habs. Neither of the netminders has posted numbers that jump off the page, though based on win-loss records it would seem as though the Flyers play better in front of Emery, who has a 4-1-1 record to Mason’s 3-4-1.

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In recent seasons the Flyers have had good success against Montreal and in their last six meetings the Flyers have won four times.

Canadiens

It’s been a great start to the season for Montreal, who continue to show that you don’t need a load of star power to have success. Strong team play and one of the league’s best goalies is what’s keeping this team rolling.

A forward group that doesn’t really feature any names that you’d consider to be a superstar, they’ve been getting the job done as a unit and have had different players chip in on different nights. Max Pacioretty is leading the team with a pretty ho-hum 13 points in 17 games, but there has been contribution all the way down the lineup (see Dale Weise with a goal and an assist in the team’s 5-1 win over Boston on Thursday).

In net there’s no doubt this team is spoiled with Carey Price; he rarely, if ever, has an off night and he gives the Canadiens a chance to win every night. Price has been in goal for 10 of the Habs’ 12 wins this year and has a solid .920 SV% to go with his 2.45 GAA.

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Carey was in net the last time these teams met and he was tagged for three goals in a game that the Flyers dominated for the first two periods before a third period meltdown that saw the Canadiens score three unanswered goals before winning in a shootout.

Flyers vs. Canadiens 4* Free Pick

Don’t think that just because it was in early October that the Flyers have forgotten about the last time these teams met.

Philly was in firm control with a 3-0 lead after two periods and they let the Habs escape with two points. Philly was in a rough state at that point of the season and the Habs were feeling unbeatable.

Take the Flyers.

Both teams are playing well now so the playing field should be leveled a bit. I think the Flyers get their revenge in this one and put a stop the Montreal’s streak.

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By Matt Durnan

A (self-proclaimed) fantasy sports guru since 2004 and a journalist since 2007. He has been offering unsolicited sports gambling advice to his circle of friends for years and has now put himself at the mercy of online readers everywhere. "It's not whether you win or lose, it's how much fun you have"... His hockey coach told him that when he was 7. His team lost every game that year.