Canadiens Aim for Road Victory Against Struggling Flames

The Montreal Canadiens are set to take their momentum on the road as they face off against the Calgary Flames on March 15, 2024. This matchup marks the beginning of a four-game trip for the Canadiens, who are looking to build on their recent success after a 4-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. This win secured their place with three victories in a four-game homestand as they vie for the top position in the Eastern Conference.

“We’re a good team,” said Montreal goaltender Jakub Dobes. “I feel like we’re going to win a lot of games.” The Canadiens, who surprised many by making the playoffs last season, have continued to impress this year, winning five of their last six games. The team’s offensive strength is led by center Nick Suzuki, who tallied two assists against the Sabres, extending his point streak to ten with one goal and nine assists over the past six matches.

In their latest game against Buffalo, Montreal secured the win with a powerful display in the third period, scoring three goals to clinch the victory. The performance of the goaltenders adds intrigue to the matchup, as the team’s No. 1 goaltender Sam Montembeault has struggled, while Dobes has emerged with a perfect 3-0 record. His impressive statistics include a goals-against average of 1.63 and a save percentage of .939. Both goaltenders are expected to see action during the trip, although head coach Martin St. Louis has not confirmed the starter for the game against Calgary.

“We feel comfortable with both goalies,” St. Louis stated. “But you’re always going to have that internal competition, no matter what position you play.” The Canadiens could also receive a boost with the anticipated return of forward Kirby Dach from injury, potentially strengthening their lineup.

In stark contrast, the Calgary Flames find themselves struggling at the bottom of the league standings. After finishing ahead of Montreal in the standings last season, the Flames have lost six consecutive games and are seeking to break this disheartening streak. Their most recent outing resulted in a 2-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, marking the third straight game in which the Flames have been limited to just one goal.

“It’s frustrating right now, but you have to find a way to get through it,” said Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf. “You don’t want to put yourself in a hole. It’s not the ideal scenario by any means, but if there’s a group that can dig out of it, it’s us.” The Flames have struggled to score more than two goals in a game this season, achieving that milestone only once during their season opener against the Edmonton Oilers.

Despite their recent shortcomings, the Flames felt they deserved a better outcome against the Jets, creating multiple opportunities in the third period to equalize. Coach Ryan Huska emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive mindset: “If you allow yourself to get stuck on that emotion, then it just keeps snowballing,” he remarked. “You have to focus on the things that you’re doing well and you have to do them harder.”

As both teams prepare for this crucial matchup, the Canadiens aim to capitalize on their current form, while the Flames look to reverse their fortunes and find the spark needed to ignite their season.