Canadiens Now +305 Underdogs to Win Series vs Flyers After Forcing Game 6

• The Montreal Canadiens remain +305 underdogs to win their Stanley Cup series over the Philadelphia Flyers despite a 5-3 Game 5 triumph
• The Flyers are -400 favorites. Is now the time to jump on that price?
• Analysis of the odds and predictions on the series outcome follow in the story below

The Montreal Canadiens are the annoying party guest of the Stanley Cup playoffs. In reality, they never should’ve been invited.

Yet, they showed up early, made their presence known to everyone and now they refuse to go home, even though it’s long after the time when the celebration should be over for them.

Tuesday’s 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers kept Montreal alive in their Eastern Conference quarter-final series. Philly’s still up 3-2 but the odds of the Canadiens winning the series have shortened.

Underdog Montreal are now at a priced at +305. The favored Flyers remain the -400 chalk to capture the set.

Canadiens vs Flyers Series Odds

Odds taken Aug. 20

The Canadiens opened the series as +195 underdogs. Philly was the -240 favorite.

Hearing for Niskanen

It would appear that the Flyers will be taking the ice for Game 6 on Friday minus steady defenseman Matt Niskanen. He cross-checked Montreal forward Brendan Gallagher in the face with 5:08 remaining in the third period.

Niskanen was not penalized on the play and Gallagher finished the game.  However, on Thursday the NHL summoned him for a formal hearing.

Philadelphia Flyers defender Matt Niskanen will have a hearing today for cross checking Montreal Canadiens F Brendan Gallagher. #AnytimeAnywhere #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/qY4TQC1Apz

— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) August 20, 2020

Traditionally, when a player is called for a formal hearing, a suspension always follows. The Flyers should be expecting to be minus Niskanen as they seek to close out the Habs.

Montreal’s problem is that Gallagher (jaw injury) is also listed as doubtful for Game 6. He’s slated for a CT scan today. Gallagher fell hard into the boards. He appeared to be woozy before returning to the bench with a bloody mouth.

Canadiens Content

Montreal is enjoying success from its core of young players. Jesperi Kotkaniemi leads the team with four goals. Nick Suzuki is tied for the club scoring lead with five points.

Suzuki netted the winner in Game 5. He snapped a 3-3 tie in the third period, just 22 seconds after Joel Farabee tied the game for the Flyers.

Cette fois-ci, le but est bon.

Good goal this time.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/PerwwI1nBX

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) August 20, 2020

Timely goals and different heroes each night are also a huge part of the Montreal formula for survival. In Game 5, forward Joel Armia scored twice. He’d netted one goal through the Canadiens’ first eight playoff games.

Montreal certainly isn’t an offensive powerhouse. The Habs were shut out by Flyers goalie Carter Hart in Games 3 and 4.

You’ll count all the way down to #70 on the NHL playoff scoring leaders before getting to the first Montreal player. That’s captain Shea Weber, who sports 3-2-5 totals.

Flyers Couldn’t Capitalize

Philadelphia was presented with an ideal opportunity to finish off the series. Kotkaniemi was assessed a five-minute major penalty for boarding as well as a game misconduct after crashing the Flyers’ Travis Sandheim into the boards early in the second period.

Josef Voracek scored twice on the ensuing power play but the Flyers couldn’t build off that momentum.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi gets a major penalty and game misconduct for this hit on Travis Sanheim pic.twitter.com/dvCgJmpV4E

— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) August 20, 2020

A worrisome trend for Philadelphia – five Flyers scored 19 or more goals during the regular season – Travis Konecny (24), Kevin Hayes (23), Sean Couturier (22), Claude Giroux (21), and James van Riemsdyk (19).

None of those five have scored in any of the team’s eight playoff games.

The Flyers have proven most successful in this series when they’ve played it tight to the vest. Philly scored just five goals through the first four games and yet held a 3-1 edge in the series.

Play that style and they’ll finally burst Montreal’s bubble in Game 6.

Pick: Philadelphia Flyers (-400)