Two teams currently on two-game losing streaks, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Montreal Canadiens clash at Bell Centre. CiTV will broadcast this Eastern Conference matchup, which gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 29.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Montreal Canadiens Odds
Montreal (-125) is currently favored over Carolina (+105) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals (-125 for the over, +105 for the under).
Carolina is 35-28 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.3 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 32 of its games have gone under the total, while 30 have gone over and none have pushed. The Canes are 16-14 SU on the road in 2019-20.
Carolina has converted on 21.4 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, it has the fifth-best penalty kill in the league, and it has successfully killed off 83.0 percent of its penalties.
Carolina, as a collective unit, has been whistled for penalties 4.0 times per game in the 2019-20 season, 4.4 per game over its past five total, and 4.2 per game over its last five road outings. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays 8.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 24.7 saves per game with a .904 save percentage, Petr Mrazek (21-18-2) has been the top option in goal for Carolina this year. If Carolina chooses to rest him, however, they might turn to James Reimer (15-10-2 record, .914 save percentage, 2.66 goals against average).
The visiting Hurricanes have relied on Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen this season. Aho (62 points) has tallied 36 goals and 26 assists, and has recorded two or more points in 14 different games. Teravainen has 15 goals and 44 assists to his name (and has notched a point in 40 games).
Over on the other bench, Montreal is 29-37 straight up (SU) and has lost 16.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 66 regular season contests, 33 of its games have gone under the total, while 30 have gone over and just three have pushed. This season, the team’s 13-22 SU at home.
Montreal has converted on 18.9 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 21st overall, and it’s successfully killed off 78.5 percent of all opponent power plays.
Montreal players have been sent to the penalty box only 3.4 times per game this season, 3.2 per game over their past five match ups total, and 3.0 per game over their last five home outings. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 8.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Carey Price has stopped 27.7 shots per game as the top selection in goal for Montreal. Price has 26 wins, 29 losses, and six overtime losses and has recorded a pedestrian 2.76 goals against average and a .910 save percentage this season.
Tomas Tatar (22 goals, 36 assists) will pace the attack for the Canadiens.
Carolina Hurricanes at Montreal Canadiens Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Canadiens, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- For both of these teams, the game went over the total in four of their past five matchups.
- This game features two clubs that have clobbered opposing nets with shots. Carolina has registered the league’s third-most shots on goal (33.4) and Montreal has attempted the third-most (34.2).
- Power plays and penalty kills could have a critical role in tonight’s matchup. The Hurricanes are 9-6 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 21-18 when they serve fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total. The Canadiens are 8-10 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 21-27 when total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
- Montreal is 4-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Carolina is 5-0 in shootouts.
- Montreal is ranked 21st in the league with 6.9 takeaways per game. That figure’s trended higher, as the team has forced 7.4 takeaways over its last 10 games and 9.2 takeaways over its last five.
- Carolina has created 9.0 takeaways per game over its last five road games, its season average of 9.5 takeaways per game (ranked second in the NHL).
- Carolina might hold the upper hand if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s 12-10 in games decided by one goal, while Montreal is only 14-22 in such games.
