Facing each other for the fourth and final time this year, the Florida Panthers and the Montreal Canadiens collide at Bell Centre for a divisional tilt. The game gets started at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday, March 19 and it’s being shown live on Reseau Des Sports.
Florida Panthers at Montreal Canadiens Odds
Florida (+125) is entering this one as the underdog to Florida (-145) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).
Florida is 35-34 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.6 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 35 of its matches have gone over the total, while 33 have gone under and just one has pushed. As an away team this season, the Panthers are 13-20 SU.
Florida has converted on 19.6 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 16th overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 80.6 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Panthers have been penalized 4.3 times per game this season, 3.8 per game over its past five contests total, and 4.2 per game over its last five road outings. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays 10.8 minutes per contest over their last five road games.
Averaging 28.2 saves per game with a .910 save percentage, James Reimer (17-20-5) has been the best option in goal for Florida this season. If head coach Bob Boughner decides to rest him, however, Florida might roll with Roberto Luongo (14-13-3 record, .926 save percentage, 2.63 goals against average).
Aleksander Barkov and Vincent Trocheck will both be relied on to facilitate things for the visiting Panthers. Barkov has 70 points via 25 goals and 45 assists, and has recorded multiple points 20 times. Trocheck has 28 goals and 38 assists to his name (and has logged a point in 46 games).
Over on the other bench, Montreal is 26-46 straight up (SU) and has lost 22.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 72 regular season outings, 39 of its games have gone under the total, while 31 have gone over and just two have pushed. This year, the team is 17-19 SU as the home team.
The Canadiens have converted on 21.1 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 31st overall, and it’s successfully killed off 75.0 percent of all penalties.
Canadiens players have been called for penalties 3.8 times per game in total this season, and 4.6 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties 11.0 minutes per contest over their last five home games.
Carey Price (27.3 saves per game) has been the primary selection in goal for the Canadiens. Price has 15 wins, 28 losses, and six OT losses to his name and has registered a poor .904 save percentage and 2.98 goals against average this year.
Alex Galchenyuk (16 goals, 28 assists) and Brendan Gallagher (26 goals, 18 assists) will pace the offensive counter for the Canadiens.
Florida Panthers vs. Montreal Canadiens Betting Predictions
Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Canadiens, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
Over Montreal’s last ten outings, eight of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 3-5 in those games).
Power plays and penalty kills could prove to be even more critical than usual in this game. The Panthers are 13-17 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 16-21 in games where they serve fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total. The Canadiens are 10-14 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 19-31 when their penalty minutes are in the single digits.
Montreal is 2-6 in games decided by a shootout this season while Florida is 3-3 in shootouts.
Florida may hold the upper hand if it’s a tight one late. The team’s 17-15 in one-goal games, while Montreal is 10-15 in such games.
The over has hit in three of Montreal’s last five outings.
Montreal is ranked 28th this season with 12.3 giveaways per game. That figure has improved lately, however, as it’s averaged 9.9 giveaways over its last 10 games and 9.4 giveaways over its last five.
Florida is ranked 31st this season with 13.0 giveaways per game. That figure’s trended upward lately, as the team’s averaged 21.0 giveaways over its last 10 games and 24.2 giveaways over its last five.
The Canadiens this season have handed the second-most hits in the NHL (25.9 per game), but that average has risen to 29.2 over their last five games as the home team.
*****
