Bell Centre will be the site for a cross-continent tilt as the Anaheim Ducks head north to to face the Montreal Canadiens. It’s the final time that the two clubs will meet in the regular season. Reseau Des Sports will showcase the matchup, which gets underway at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 3.
Anaheim Ducks vs. Montreal Canadiens Odds
Anaheim is 25-27 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.4 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 52 regular season outings, 32 of its games have gone under the total, while 19 have gone over and just one has pushed. The Ducks are 11-15 SU as the road team in 2017-18.
Anaheim has converted on just 17.5 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s ranked 23rd in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 12th overall, and it has successfully killed off 82.1 percent of its penalties.
The Ducks, as a collective unit, have been whistled for penalties 4.6 times per game overall during the 2017-18 season, and 5.8 per game over its last five on the road. The teams been forced to kill penalties just 8.0 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Sporting a .922 save percentage and 29.4 saves per game, John Gibson (19-21-6) has been the primary option in goal for Anaheim this year. If it chooses to rest him, however, the team might go with Ryan Miller (7-9-5 record, .929 save percentage, 2.19 goals against average).
Rickard Rakell and Ryan Getzlaf will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Ducks. Rakell (39 points) is up to 18 goals and 21 assists, and has recorded multiple points 11 times. Getzlaf has six goals and 25 assists to his credit, and has registered a point in 17 games.
Montreal is 20-31 straight up (SU) and has lost 14.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. 28 of its matches have gone under the total, while 21 have gone over and just two have pushed. This season, the teams 12-15 SU as the home team.
The Canadiens have converted on just 19.9 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 24th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 78.5 percent of all penalties.
Montreal skaters have been whistled for penalties 3.7 times per game in total this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five at home. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 6.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Carey Price (27.6 saves per game) has been the primary netminder in goal for the Canadiens. Price has 14 wins, 23 losses, and four OT losses to his credit and has recorded a mediocre 2.97 goals against average and a poor .906 save percentage this year.
The home team will be led on offense by Max Pacioretty (16 goals, 15 assists).
Anaheim Ducks vs. Montreal Canadiens Betting Predictions
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Canadiens, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Montreal is 2-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Anaheim is 3-5 in shootouts.
- Anaheim has managed 28.6 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Montreal is averaging 36.4 shots per game over its last five home outings.
- Montreal has managed just 2.0 goals per game (while giving up 3.7) on its three-game losing skid.
- Over Anaheim’s last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 4-2 in those games).
- This game features two of the more aggressive teams in the league. Anaheim skaters have accounted for the leagues seventh-most hits per game (24.2) while the Canadiens have tallied the second-most (26.1).
