NHL Preview: Montreal Canadiens (17-17-5) at Philadelphia Flyers (20-14-6)

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Philadelphia Flyers logo

MONTREAL CANADIENS NOTES:

KEEP AN EYE ON…

– The Canadiens and Flyers are facing each other for the 206th time in regular season. Including the playoffs, this will be the 243rd match-up between the two teams.

All-Time

CANADIENS vs. PHI 94-75-30-6 (205 PJ / GP)

Home 53-33-14-3 (103 PJ / GP)

Away 41-42-16-3 (102 PJ / GP)

Last game:

D 3-2 L @ PHI (28/03/23)

C. Primeau 2-26 | F. Sandstrom 2-29

BG / WG: O. Tippett

LAST 10 GAMES VS. PHILADELPHIE:

28/03/23 – MTL 2 @ PHI 3

24/02/23 – MTL 5 @ PHI 2

19/11/22 – PHI 4 @ MTL 5 (TB/SO)

21/04/22 – PHI 6 @ MTL 3

13/03/22 – MTL 4 @ PHI 3 (P/OT)

16/12/21 – PHI 2 @ MTL 3 (TB/SO)

16/01/20 – MTL 4 @ PHI 1

30/11/19 – PHI 4 @ MTL 3 (P/OT)

07/11/19 – MTL 2 @ PHI 3 (P/OT)

19/03/19 – MTL 3 @ PHI 1

LEADING GOAL SCORERS VS. PHILADELPHIE:

1) Sean Monahan (11-5-16, 17 pj/gp)

2) Brendan Gallagher (11-8-19, 26 pj/gp)

3) Cole Caufield (4-2-6, 4 pj/gp)

LEADING SCORERS VS. PHILADELPHIE:

1) Brendan Gallagher (11-8-19, 26 pj/gp)

2) Sean Monahan (11-5-16, 17 pj/gp)

3) David Savard (3-7-10, 33 pj/gp)

MOST PENALTY MINUTES VS. PHILADELPHIE:

1) Mike Matheson (24, 23 pj/gp)

2) Brendan Gallagher (20, 26 pj/gp)

3) Josh Anderson (17, 17 pj/gp)

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS NOTES:

INJURY REPORT

PLAYER INJURY DATES GAMES MISSED

Noah Cates IR – lower body 11/28-current 19

2023-24 TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 65

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

1/8 Acquired D Jamie Drysdale and a Second-Round Selection in the 2025 NHL Draft from ANA in exchange for F Cutter Gauthier

QUICK HITS

– The Flyers are 9-4-5 in their last 18 games, including a season-high nine-game point streak (7-0-2) from Nov. 30-Dec. 19. – Philadelphia is 14-7-5 since Nov. 11, ranking T-7th in the NHL in points percentage (.635) and T-9th in wins in that span. – The Flyers are 16-3-2 when scoring first this season and ranks T-5th in the NHL in wins when scoring first. – Philadelphia is 11-4-2 when leading after the first period and rank T-9th in the NHL in wins when leading after the first. – The Flyers are 16-2-3 when scoring three-plus goals in a game this season.

MISCELLANEOUS STATS

– Philadelphia ranks second in the NHL with 1,327 shots and T-5th with a 33.2 shot-per-game average. – The Flyers have posted 30-plus shots in 27 of their 40 games this season, earning at least a point in 18 of those contests. – Philadelphia ranks fifth in the League with 719 blocked shots and 11th with 689 hits.

HOME SWEET HOME

– The Flyers play nine home games during the month of January – the most home games in a month this season. – Philadelphia is 4-2-2, including four extra session contests, in its last eight home games since Nov. 30. – The Flyers are 9-8-2 at home this season and have outscored their opponents, 30-14, in those nine wins (not including shootout goals).

PENALTY KILLERS

– Philadelphia leads the NHL with 10 shorthanded goals. – The Flyers have allowed just eight power-play goals against in their last 26 games, going 77-for-85 on the penalty kill since Nov. 11. – Philadelphia leads the NHL with a 90.6 penalty kill percentage and is T-1st in PPGA since Nov. 11. – The Flyers are 35-for-39 on the penalty kill on the road since Nov. 11 to rank fourth in the League in road penalty kill percentage (89.7). – Philadelphia ranks second overall in the NHL with an 86.2 penalty kill percentage and T-2nd in PPGA (18).

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NHL Editor
Profile: A seasoned NHL analyst with a comprehensive understanding of the league’s tactical systems, player‑development pipelines, and organizational strategies. This columnist provides in‑depth coverage that blends film study, advanced metrics, and historical context to explain how teams evolve across an 82‑game season and into the postseason. Background: With extensive experience covering professional hockey, the columnist has contributed to national sports outlets, digital platforms, and radio segments focused on roster construction, coaching trends, and league‑wide movement. A background in sports journalism and analytics supports a disciplined approach to evaluating performance, interpreting data, and tracking long‑term competitive cycles across all NHL markets. Signature Coverage Areas: Game previews and matchup analysis Film‑based breakdowns of offensive, defensive, and special‑teams systems Player evaluation, draft analysis, and trade‑deadline coverage Salary‑cap strategy, front‑office trends, and organizational philosophy Historical context, rivalry features, and postseason analysis Style & Approach: The writing emphasizes clarity, accuracy, and accessibility — translating complex systems and statistical models into insights that resonate with both traditional hockey fans and analytically minded readers. Each column reflects a commitment to balanced reporting, thoughtful evaluation, and a deep appreciation for the NHL’s speed, physicality, and evolving style of play.