Boston Bruins at Montreal Canadiens Matchup Preview 11/5/19

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Bell Centre is playing host to an intriguing tilt as the Montreal Canadiens welcome the visiting Boston Bruins. NBC Sports Network will showcase this Original Six matchup, and the puck drops at 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 5.

Boston Bruins at Montreal Canadiens Odds

Boston (-120) is being labeled as the favorite over Montreal (+100), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been placed at an even 6 goals. The odds for betting that total stand at -105 for the over and -115 on the under.

Boston is 11-3 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 6.8 units this year. Through 14 regular season contests, seven of its games have gone over the total, while five have gone under and just one has pushed. This 2019-20 Bruins team is 4-2 SU on the road.

Boston has impressively found the net on 30.6 percent of its power play opportunities so far. That’s a good improvement from last season, when it was ranked second in the NHL by converting on 27.6 percent of its extra-man opportunities. Its penalty kill has also gotten stronger, as the team has gone from successfully defending 81.8 percent of all opponent power plays (ranked seventh overall last season) to 86.4 percent this year.

Boston, as a collective unit, has been sent to the penalty box 4.1 times per game this season, a number that is up a bit from last year’s 3.7 penalties per game. After serving an average of 9.0 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s had to kill penalties for 10.2 minutes per outing this year.

Averaging 27.9 saves per game with a .949 save percentage, Tuukka Rask (7-1-1) has been the best option in goal for Boston this year. If it chooses to give him a rest, however, the team could turn to Jaroslav Halak (4-2-1), who has a .917 save percentage and 2.82 goals against average this year.

David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand will both lead the way for the visiting Bruins. Pastrnak has 29 points on 14 goals and 15 assists, and has recorded two or more points eight times. Marchand has 10 goals and 18 assists to his nameand has notched a point in 12 games.

On the other side of the rink, Montreal is 7-7 straight up (SU) and has earned 0.2 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 14 regular season matches, eight of its games have gone over the total, while five have gone under and just one has pushed. It’s 3-3 SU at home thus far.

Montreal has converted on 20.8 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 30th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 69.8 percent of all penalties.

Montreal players have been whistled for penalties only 3.1 times per game this season, a number that’s pretty close to the 3.5 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 8.3 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team has had to stave off opponent power plays for 6.6 minutes per outing this season.

Carey Price (28.4 saves per game) has been the primary selection in goal for Montreal. Price has six wins, five losses, and one overtime loss to his name and has maintained a .915 save percentage and 2.64 goals against average this year.

Jonathan Drouin (seven goals, five assists) and Brendan Gallagher (seven goals, five assists) will pace the attack for Montreal.

Boston Bruins at Montreal Canadiens Free Picks

Prediction: SU Winner – Canadiens, O/U – Under

Betting Trends

  • The total has gone under in three of Montreal’s last five games.
  • The Bruins are 5-1 SU in games where they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Canadiens are 2-2 SU when they spend more time in the box than their opponent.
  • Boston has averaged 3.7 goals per game overall this year, but has raised it up to 5.0 per contest in their last six games (the team’s a perfect 6-0 SU over that span)