Montreal plays in just its second home game of the season Tuesday night and it’s not clear if that’s a good thing. Nobody’s home fans are quicker to boo their own side when things aren’t going well and right now, things aren’t going well.
The Habs have lost five straight games after scraping out two overtime wins to open the season.
Scoring goals has been the biggest problem with just 13 in regulation time through seven games. The power play is a pathetic 2-for-22 and many blame that on the injury to defenseman Andrei Markov in the season opener.
In hopes someone else can kick start things, Montreal is recalling offensive-minded blueliner Marc-Andre Bergeron from Hamilton for Tuesday’s game, but we wouldn’t advise to expect any miracles.
Pick: Under 6
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Calgary Flames (-145, 5.5)
If the Flames are still upset about losing to Columbus last week, they’ll have a chance to take it out on the Blue Jackets Tuesday.
Columbus beat the Flames in a tight-checking 2-1 game last Tuesday that had an extra bit of sting for the Flames because the loss came just one day after their now infamous 6-5 embarrassment to the Blackhawks. (The Flames had a 5-0 first period lead in that game).
Even though the Flames have looked a little better in their two games since the loss to Chicago, they apparently haven’t learned their lesson. They held a 5-0 lead after two periods over the Vancouver Canucks over the weekend but were outscored 3-0 in the third to make the game closer than it should have been.
The good news is that Columbus plays such a defensive style from end to end that it’s unlikely Calgary will have a chance to build a big lead and then give its fans a heart attack.
Ice Picks 10/20
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