TD Place Stadium is playing host a divisional matchup as the Montreal Canadiens visit Ottawa to meet the Senators. The puck drops at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 16, and fans at home can catch it live on NBC Sports Network.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Ottawa Senators Odds
Ottawa enters the matchup as the narrow favorite with a -115 moneyline. The line for Montreal sits at -105 and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).
Montreal is 14-18 straight up (SU) and has lost 7.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. 15 of its games have gone over the total, while another 15 have gone under and just two have pushed. The Habs are 5-8 SU on the road in 2017-18.
Montreal has converted on 17.5 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 24th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 78.3 percent of all penalties.
The Habs, as a collective unit, have been penalized 4.0 times per game this season, 3.8 per game over its last five contests total, and 4.0 per game over its last five on the road. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 8.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .903 save percentage and 26.4 saves per game, Carey Price (9-11-2) has been the best option in goal for Montreal this year. If it chooses to rest him, however, Montreal may roll with Charlie Lindgren (3-5-1 record, .924 save percentage, 2.43 goals against average).
Phillip Danault and Brendan Gallagher will both be offensive focal points for the visiting Canadiens. Danault (19 points) is up to six goals and 13 assists, and has recorded multiple points two times. Gallagher has 13 goals and six assists to his nameand has notched at least one point in 14 games.
On the other bench, Ottawa is 10-20 straight up (SU) and has lost 13.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 30 regular season matches, 15 of its games have gone over the total, while another 15 have gone under and none have pushed. It’s 5-10 SU as the home team this year.
The Senators have converted on just 15.3 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that places them in the bottom overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 27th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 76.7 percent of all opponent power plays.
Senators players have been penalized only 3.5 times per game in total this season, 3.4 per game over their past five contests total, and 3.2 per game over their last five home outings. The team has had to kill penalties 8.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Craig Anderson has stopped 24.6 shots per game as the top option in goal for the Senators. Anderson has nine wins, 14 losses, and three overtime losses to his name and has maintained a poor .897 save percentage and 3.05 goals against average this year.
Mark Stone (14 goals, 13 assists) will pace the attack for the Sens.
Montreal Canadiens at Ottawa Senators Betting Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Senators, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Ottawa (1-4 in shootouts) has more experience this season in games decided by shootout. Montreal has only participated in two shootouts this year, winning one and losing the other.
The total has gone under in four of Ottawa’s last five outings.
Over Montreal’s last ten games, five of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 4-1 in those games).
This game features two of the tougher defenses in the league. Montreal skaters have given out the second-most hits in the league (25.4 per game) and the Sens have tallied the 10th-most (22.7).
