In their third head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens collide at Bell Centre in an Original Six tilt. The opening face-off takes place at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 20, and you’ll be able to view the game live on CBC Sports.
Boston Bruins at Montreal Canadiens Odds
Boston is 26-18 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 3.3 units this season. 22 of its contests have gone under the total, while 21 have gone over and just one has pushed. This 2017-18 Bruins team is 11-9 SU on the road.
Boston has converted on 21.6 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, it has the sixth-best penalty kill in the league, and it has successfully killed off 83.5 percent of all penalties.
Boston, as a collective unit, has been whistled for penalties 4.0 times per game overall this season, and 2.8 per game over its last five games. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 8.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 25.0 saves per game with a .920 save percentage, Tuukka Rask (16-13-4) has been the best option in goal for Boston this year. If head coach Bruce Cassidy chooses to rest him, however, Boston could turn to Anton Khudobin (10-7-4), who has a .924 save percentage and 2.38 goals against average this year.
Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Bruins. Marchand has 46 points via 20 goals and 26 assists, and has recorded two or more points in 14 different games. Pastrnak has 18 goals and 23 assists to his name (and has registered a point in 28 games).
On the other side of the ice, Montreal is 19-27 straight up (SU) and has lost 13.0 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 46 regular season contests, 24 of its games have gone under the total, while 19 have gone over and just two have pushed. This year, the team is 11-13 SU as the home team.
Montreal has converted on 19.4 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 27th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 77.7 percent of all penalties.
Montreal players have been sent to the penalty box 3.8 times per game in total this season, and 2.6 per game over their last five home outings. The team has had to defend opponent power plays just 7.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Carey Price has stopped 28.0 shots per game as the primary option in goal for Montreal. Price has 13 wins, 19 losses, and four overtime losses and has recorded a pedestrian 2.96 goals against average and a fairly-weak .908 save percentage this year.
Max Pacioretty (14 goals, 14 assists) will pace the attack for the Canadiens.
Boston Bruins at Montreal Canadiens Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Canadiens, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
The total has gone over in three of Montreal’s last five games.
Boston has managed 32.6 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Montreal is averaging 40.0 shots per game over its last five at home.
The Canadiens are 6-8 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 13-19 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.
Two of Montreal’s last ten games have ended in a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 2-2 overall in shootouts this year.
Montreal is ranked 20th in the league this season with 6.9 takeaways per game. That figure has trended higher lately, as it has forced 9.6 takeaways over its last 10 games and 9.4 takeaways over its last five.
Boston is ranked sixth in the league with 9.3 takeaways per game. That figure has trended lower, however, as it has forced 6.8 takeaways over its last 10 games and 5.8 takeaways over its last five.
