Bell Centre will play host to a cross-country matchup as the Montreal Canadiens take on the visiting Edmonton Oilers. The action gets started at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 9 and it’ll be shown live on Sportsnet.
Edmonton Oilers at Montreal Canadiens Odds
Montreal enters the matchup as the heavy favorite with a moneyline of -155. The line for Edmonton sits at +135 and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -120 for the over and +100 for the under.
Losing 7.3 units for moneyline bettors, Montreal is 13-17 straight up (SU) overall thus far. That early-season winning percentage is a regression from the 47-35 record that the team managed during the 2016-17 season campaign. Among its 30 games this season, 14 have gone over the total, while an additional 14 have gone under and just two have pushed. This year, the team’s 8-9 SU at home.
The Canadiens have converted on 17.5 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 21st overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 78.8 percent of all penalties.
The Canadiens, as a collective unit, have been penalized 4.0 times per game overall this season, 3.6 per game over their past five contests total, and 3.8 per game over their last five at home. The team has had to kill penalties for just 8.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, overall.
With a .904 save percentage and 27.1 saves per game, Carey Price (8-10-2) has been the top option in goal for the Habs this season. If Montreal decides to give him a rest, however, the team may turn to Charlie Lindgren (3-5-5 record, .924 save percentage, 2.43 goals against average).
Brendan Gallagher and Phillip Danault will each be focal points for the Canadiens. Gallagher (19 points) has tallied 13 goals and six assists and has recorded multiple points in four different games this year. Danault has five goals and 12 assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in 12 games.
Over on the other bench, Edmonton is 11-17 straight up (SU) and has lost 10.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 28 regular season outings, 14 of its games have gone over the total, while 13 have gone under and just one has pushed. The Oilers are 6-8 SU as the away team this season.
The Oilers have converted on just 16.7 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that’s ranked 24th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 31st overall and it’s successfully defended 72.3 percent of all penalties.
Edmonton’s skaters have been penalized 4.3 times per game in total this season, and 3.2 per game over their last five road outings. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 7.8 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Cam Talbot (.903 save percentage and 3.00 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Edmonton. Talbot is averaging 25.8 saves per game and owns a 10-12-1 record.
For the visiting Oilers, the offense will be facilitated through Connor McDavid, who has 22 assists and 11 goals this year.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Montreal Canadiens Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Canadiens, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
The over has hit in three of Montreal’s last five games.
Two clubs that put the puck on goal a lot, Edmonton has attempted the league’s ninth-most shots on goal (34.0) while Montreal has attempted the fifth-most (34.4).
Over Edmonton’s last ten games, nine of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 3-6 in those games).
This game features two of the tougher defenses in the league. Edmonton skaters have accounted for the league’s second-most hits per game (28.0) while the Habs have tallied the second-most (24.9).
