The Montreal Canadiens face the Calgary Flames with both teams looking to improve from slow starts to the season. The Canadiens have an 11-10-1 record and are near the bottom of the Atlantic Division while the Flames have a 10-9-3 record and are in the middle of the Pacific Division. Both teams are looking to improve from rocky starts to the season and the upcoming game should be a good one as a result.
The Canadiens are off to a rough start to the season with their offense struggling and scoring only 2.82 goals per game. Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Kirby Dach have scored 26 goals and 34 assists to lead the top two lines but the rest of the offense has struggled. Only two skaters have scored six goals or more while only four skaters have added eight assists or more and opposing defenses can limit the top-heavy offense as a result.
The offense has struggled but the defense has let the Canadiens down this season, allowing 3.50 goals per game with 14 goals in the last four games. Johnathan Kovacevic and David Savard have combined for 2.0 defensive point shares and 84 blocked shots but the rest of the unit has struggled, allowing opponents to find open shots on the net at will. In addition, goaltender Jake Allen has struggled in the net with a .890 save percentage and a 3.57 goals-against aver age on 454 shots.