Montreal Canadiens & Calgary Flames clash at the Scotiabank Saddledome

The Montreal Canadiens stumbled out of Rexall Place Thursday night, licking their wounds after an overtime loss to Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.

It will have to be a quick turnaround for the Canadiens, who have high prospects to wrestle a wildcard spot away from their competition. The Canadiens visit the Calgary Flames, who are also coming off an overtime loss against the Dallas Stars on Thursday night. Calgary is one point shy of the second wildcard in the west, and Montreal is two points out of the final wildcard in the east.

Some things need to happen, certain teams to win, and others to lose, but both teams are very much in the mix. Calgary has some feistiness, and Montreal is up to par in that department as well. Arber Xhekaj played mad against the Oilers, and he wasn't pleased with Jordan Greenway last Saturday night, and again on Monday night.

Ryan Lomberg is a pest for the Flames that I foresee locking horns with Xhekaj, and seeing the addition of Michael Pezzetta to the lineup, he will likely have many exchanges with the Flames pest. Kevin Bahl and Martin Pospisil are another two on the Flames that could challenge the Canadiens physically.

At this point in the season, with just 20 games remaining on the schedule each game is going to be a tooth and nail battle. I can't imagine a better experience for the young players development. Equally important is the Laval Rocket and their eventual playoff run, which will be huge for the young players to gain experience in important games.

Jakub Dobes is between the pipes, and Dustin Wolf for the Flames.

Onto the game

Martin St Louis put his forward group through the blender with Laine out of the lineup. Firstly, Pezzetta is in the lineup.

Pezzetta is playing on a line with Brendan Gallagher and Christian Dvorak. The first line remains intact, which is kind of a given. Owen Beck is playing with Alex Newhook and Josh Anderson, and the fourth line remains the same, Emil Heineman, Jake Evans and Joel Armia.

Though Heineman went to the bench holding his head after a David Savard slapshot deflected off a stick into his head. He was on the bench briefly getting checked by the athletic trainer. But he was seen heading to the infirmary for further evaluation.

Through five minutes and change, the shots are 2-1 in Calgary's favour.

The Flames have held the Habs to one shot through 12:24 of the first period, while registering seven shots of their own. Dobes has been the story of the period for the Canadiens, and without him, they might be down by a pair.

Montreal is the first team with a penalty, Arber Xhekaj is off to the box for interfering with Flames forward Martin Pospisil while trying to box him out in front of the net.

Josh Anderson was gifted an opportunity off a turnover in the offensive zone, during a forecheck sequence. He worked into the zone, and got a shot off on Wolf, but he turned it aside.

Fortunately for the Canadiens, both the team and Xhekaj can rely on their penalty killing to come through big.

0-0 after 20, with Calgary leading the Habs in shots 9-4.

Second Period

Montreal has looked more dangerous in the first five minutes of the second period than they did the entire first period. With five minutes gone in the period, the Habs have halfed their shot total from the first period already. Nothing to show for it, but shooting more is a good sign.

Unfortunately, Calgary has doubled up Montreal in shots, and Dobes has had to play hero to this point. Though Owen Beck did have a yawning cage, and the puck in his vicinity, but nothing formulated. He continues to be impressive, and play a very mature two-way game for a 21-year-old.

Montreal started to make a significant push, where the momentum shift was noticeable, and before they could create anything noteworthy, Caufield got tripped up in the attacking zone. Flames captain Mikael Backlund is off to the box, and the Laine-less Habs power play will try to solve Wolf.

Calgary had the last laugh, killing off the power play, with Montreal failing to challenge Wolf very much.

Newhook ruffled some feathers, poking at a loose puck, after the officials waited a bit long to blow the whistle. Pospisil grabbed Newhook, and Bahl followed, then Beck and Anderson exchanged some words with the Flames. Nothing formulated, but the smashmouth, heavy hitting style is something that I am all for.

Calgary continues to lead in the shot department, doubling Montreal up 16-8 with 7:36 on the clock.

After the Flames played keep away for about 12 seconds, an opening in the right slot opened up, and Joel Farabee beat Dobes clean with a slick wrister. 1-0 Calgary, with just over three minutes left in the middle frame.

Montreal has finally felt a firecracker blow up under them, and if not for Wolf, Caufield, Hutson or Suzuki would have tied the game. Calgary has themselves a fantastic young goalie.

Hutson did what he does, making Jonathan Huberdeau look silly, before baiting him and forcing the veteran to draw a penalty for tripping. Huberdeau could be seen chatting with Hutson, and Hutson just brushed him off. Hutson is cold blooded.

Calgary bent, but they didn't break, and the Habs have 01:43 remaining on the man advantage to start the third period.

Third Period

I forgot to mention it earlier, but Joel Armia filled in for Laine on the power play, and made some decent progress. His ability to cycle the puck came in clutch, and he fed Caufield in front of the net a great pass. Wolf was once again square to the play, however.

It has been more of the same, the Canadiens and Flames trading chances, but the goalies have stood tall throughout. The first six minutes are off the clock and the game remains 1-0 in Calgary's favour..

Hutson made a great pass to Armia, who fired it with a nice catch-and-release, but Wolf again came up with the save. He has played so well, that it has overshadowed how good Dobes is playing. Impressive duel of the masked men.

Gallagher ended up in Wolf's net, but the puck trickled into the corner, and the arena collectively let out a gasp.

Shots are 23-23, and the same story remains, Montreal can't solve Calgary's rookie goaltender.

With three minutes left on the clock, the Canadiens are on the cusp of being shutout, which will bite them pretty bad in the race for a wildcard spot. Dobes has been pulled, and the Habs are pushing for the tying goal, with a six on five advantage.

Suzuki came within inches, but Wolf's pad kept the puck from going over the line, and with 34.2 on the clock, St. Louis called a timeout to rally his troops.

The Canadiens got burned by the Flames, and Wolf got the last laugh. 1-0 Calgary win.