Two teams that split their head-to-head series 1-1 last year, the Anaheim Ducks and the Montreal Canadiens collide at Bell Centre. This cross-continent matchup gets underway at 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, February 5 and it is being televised live on KCOP.
Anaheim Ducks at Montreal Canadiens Odds
Oddsmakers have not yet posted moneyline or Over/Under odds for this matchup.
Earning moneyline bettors 7.0 units, the Canadiens are 29-24 straight up (SU) overall this year. That win percentage, ranked third in the Atlantic Division so far this season, is a refreshing turnaround from how the team performed during last year’s regular season (29-53). Through 53 regular season outings, 28 of its games have gone under the total, while 23 have gone over and just two have pushed. The team’s 15-13 SU at home this season.
Montreal’s converted on just 13.2 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that puts the team in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated 23rd overall, and it’s successfully killed off 78.6 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, Montreal has been penalized 3.9 times per game overall this season, and 3.0 per game over its past five outings. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 8.7 minutes per game over its last 10 matchups, in total.
Sporting a .915 save percentage and 26.9 saves per game, Carey Price (21-18-4) has been the primary option in goal for the Canadiens this year. If head coach Claude Julien chooses to give him the night off, however, the team may go with Antti Niemi (8-7-7 record, .893 save percentage, 3.61 goals against average).
The Habs will continue to look for offensive production out of Max Domi and Tomas Tatar. Domi (47 points) has tallied 17 goals and 30 assists and has recorded two or more points nine times this year. Tatar has 16 goals and 23 assists to his name and has notched at least one point in 26 games.
Over on the other bench, Anaheim is 21-32 straight up (SU) and has lost 8.4 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 53 regular season contests, 31 of its games have gone under the total, while 18 have gone over and just three have pushed. Anaheim’s 11-16 SU as the away team this season.
Anaheim has converted on just 14.3 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that places it in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 21st overall and it’s successfully killed off 79.2 percent of all opponent power plays.
Anaheim’s skaters have been penalized 3.8 times per game in total this season, and 2.6 per game over their past ten outings. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 5.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
John Gibson (28.6 saves per game) has been the primary choice in the net for Anaheim. Gibson has 18 wins, 27 losses, and eight OT losses to his credit, and has registered a .914 save percentage and 2.93 goals against average this year.
Ryan Getzlaf (10 goals, 23 assists) has been one of the primary facilitators on offense for the visiting Ducks.
Anaheim Ducks at Montreal Canadiens Betting Predictions
Prediction: SU Winner – Canadiens, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- Anaheim (3-2 in shootouts) has more shootout experience coming into this one. Montrealis undefeated in two shootouts this year.
- For both of these teams, the game went under the total in three of their last five matchups.
- Anaheim has managed only 22.0 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Montreal has been attempting 30.6 shots per game over its last five at home.
- Over Anaheim’s last ten games, seven of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-6 in those games).
- This game features two of the tougher teams in the league. Anaheim skaters have given out the 12th-most hits in the league (22.8 per game) and the Canadiens have handed the fourth-most (27.0).
