In their second head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Montreal Canadiens and the Pittsburgh Penguins collide at PPG Paints Arena in an Eastern Conference matchup. The match will get going at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 21, and it’ll air live on Sportsnet.
Montreal Canadiens at Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
Pittsburgh is 41-32 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 0.1 units this year. That win percentage, ranked second in the Metropolitan Division so far this season, is a slide from what the team managed during the 2016-17 season (50-32). Through 73 regular season contests, 40 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while 30 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team’s 26-9 SU at home this season.
The Penguins come into the matchup with the second-best power-play unit in the NHL, as they’ve converted on 25.7 percent of their extra-man opportunities this season. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 17th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 80.3 percent of all penalties.
The Penguins, as a collective unit, have been penalized 4.0 times per game overall this season, and 2.6 per game over their last five games home outings. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays for just 7.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, overall.
Averaging 25.9 saves per game with a .909 save percentage, Matt Murray (25 wins, 17 losses, and two OT losses) has been the primary option in goal for the Pens this season. Murray did just play last night, however, so the team could choose to give him a breather and roll with Tristan Jarry instead (15-11-11 record, .908 save percentage, 2.77 goals against average).
The Pens will continue looking for leadership out of Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel. Malkin (89 points) has tallied 40 goals and 49 assists and has recorded multiple points on 24 separate occasions this year. Kessel has 29 goals and 51 assists to his credit and has notched a point in 50 games.
On the other bench, Montreal is 26-47 straight up (SU) and has lost 23.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 73 regular season outings, 40 of its games have gone under the total, while 31 have gone over and just two have pushed. The Canadiens are 9-27 SU as the road team this season.
The Canadiens have converted on 20.6 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 29th overall and it’s successfully killed off 75.2 percent of all penalties.
Montreal’s players have been called for penalties 3.8 times per game in total this season, and 4.5 per game over their past ten contests. The team has been forced to kill penalties 9.0 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
Carey Price (2.98 goals against average and .904 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Montreal. Price is averaging 27.3 saves per game and has 15 wins, 28 losses, and six OT losses to his credit.
Alex Galchenyuk (16 goals, 28 assists) has been one of the top playmakers on offense for the visiting Canadiens.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Picks
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Pittsburgh is 2-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Montreal is 2-6 in shootouts.
The total has gone over in four of Pittsburgh’s last five outings.
This game features two offenses that put the puck on net a lot. Montreal has taken the league’s ninth-most shots on goal (33.2) and Pittsburgh has attempted the second-most (34.4).
Eight of Montreal’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 2-6 in those games.
This game features two of the more aggressive defenses in the league. Montreal skaters have accounted for the second-most hits in the league (26.0 per game) and the Pens have registered the eighth-most (23.9).
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