In their second head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Montreal Canadiens take the ice at Bell Centre in an Eastern Conference matchup. The opening face-off takes place at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 25, and fans at home will be able to see it live on Reseau Des Sports.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Montreal Canadiens Odds
Montreal (-125) is currently favored over Carolina (+105), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -130 under, +110 over.
Carolina is 21-27 straight up (SU) and has lost 7.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 48 regular season matches, 24 of its games have gone under the total, while 22 have gone over and just two have pushed. The Canes are 11-16 SU on the road in 2017-18.
Carolina has converted on 18.6 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked 27th overall, and the team’s successfully killed off only 77.6 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, Carolina has been penalized just 2.8 times per game this season, and 4.0 per game over its past five games. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 6.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 23.9 saves per game with a .892 save percentage, Scott Darling (9-20-6) has been the best option in goal for Carolina this season. If Carolina chooses to rest him, however, the team might roll with Cam Ward (12-10-2), who has a .907 save percentage and 2.76 goals against average this year.
Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen will both lead the way for the visiting Hurricanes. Aho has 37 points via 16 goals and 21 assists, and has recorded multiple points 10 times. Teravainen has 11 goals and 25 assists to his creditand has logged a point in 22 games.
Montreal is 20-28 straight up (SU) and has lost 11.6 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 26 of its games have gone under the total, while 20 have gone over and just two have pushed. The team is 12-14 SU at home this year.
Montreal has converted on 19.4 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 23rd overall, and it’s successfully killed off 78.7 percent of all opponent power plays.
Montreal players have been whistled for penalties 3.8 times per game in total this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 6.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Carey Price (27.8 saves per game) has been the primary selection in goal for Montreal. Price has 14 wins, 20 losses, and four OT losses to his credit and has recorded a mediocre 2.93 goals against average and a poor .908 save percentage this year.
Max Pacioretty (15 goals, 14 assists) will lead the offensive attack for the Canadiens.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Montreal Canadiens Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Hurricanes, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
The under has hit in three of Montreal’s last five games.
This game features two clubs that put the puck on net a lot. Carolina has attempted the league’s fourth-most shots on goal (34.3) while Montreal has attempted the sixth-most (33.8). The Canes have averaged 31.6 shot attempts over their last five road games and the Habs have taken 39.2 shots over their last five home outings.
Extra-man opportunities could be critical tonight. The Hurricanes are 12-16 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 18-22 in games where they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Canadiens are 6-8 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 14-20 in games where total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
Two of Montreal’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 2-2 overall in shootouts this year.
Montreal is ranked 19th overall this season with 7.0 takeaways per game. That figure has trended upward recently, as it has averaged 9.6 takeaways over its last 10 games and 7.8 takeaways over its last five.
Carolina skaters have managed 5.0 takeaways per game over its last five road games, a drop-off from its season average of 10.3 takeaways per game (ranked third in the league).
Montreal could have an advantage if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s 10-8 in games decided by one goal, while Carolina is just 8-16 in such games.
