Two teams meeting for the second time this season, the Detroit Red Wings and the Montreal Canadiens face off at Bell Centre in an Original Six matchup. Sportsnet will showcase the action, which gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 2.
Detroit Red Wings vs. Montreal Canadiens Odds
Montreal (-165) is currently favored over Detroit (+145), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -125 for the under and +105 for the over.
The Canadiens are 12-15 straight up (SU) and have lost 5.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage is a regression from the 47-35 record that the team posted during the 2016-17 season campaign. Out of the team’s 27 regular season contests, 13 of them have gone under the total, while 12 have gone over and just two have pushed. This year, the team is 7-7 SU at home.
Montreal’s converted on just 17.2 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s ranked 24th overall in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 26th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 76.9 percent of all penalties.
Montreal, as a collective unit, has been penalized 4.1 times per game overall this season, and 4.8 per game over its last five at home. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 8.0 minutes per game over its last five outings, in total.
With a .902 save percentage and 27.1 saves per game, Carey Price (7-8-1) has been the primary option in goal for the Canadiens this season. If they decide to give him a rest, however, the team could turn to Charlie Lindgren (3-5-5 record, .924 save percentage, 2.43 goals against average).
The Habs will continue to look for offensive production via Brendan Gallagher and Jonathan Drouin. Gallagher (18 points) has put up 12 goals and six assists and has recorded two or more points on three different occasions this year. Drouin has five goals and 12 assists to his credit and has recorded a point in 12 contests.
Detroit is 10-16 straight up (SU) and has lost 6.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. A total of 13 of its outings have gone over the total, while an additional 13 have gone under and none have pushed. Detroit’s 6-7 SU as the road team this season.
Detroit has scored on 23.2 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked ninth overall and it’s successfully killed off 82.6 percent of all opponent power plays.
Detroit’s skaters have been called for penalties 4.3 times per game this season, and 2.6 per game over their last five road outings. The team’s had to kill penalties just 5.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Jimmy Howard (27.0 saves per game) has been the main option in the net for Detroit. Howard has eight wins, 13 losses, and four OT losses to his credit, while registering a .915 save percentage and 2.75 goals against average this year.
Anthony Mantha (12 goals, 10 assists) and Dylan Larkin (four goals, 18 assists) have been the top playmakers for Detroit and will pace the offensive counter for the visiting Red Wings.
Detroit Red Wings at Montreal Canadiens Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Canadiens, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Detroit is 2-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Montreal is 1-1 in shootouts.
The under has hit in four of Montreal’s last five outings.
Montreal has allowed 3.1 goals per game overall this year, but has allowed just 1.3 per contest in its past four games (the team’s a perfect 0-0 SU over that span).
Six of Detroit’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 2-4 in those games.
The Habs this season have handed the sixth-most hits per game (24.4), but the club has averaged 30.4 over their last five games as the home team.
