Bell Centre plays host to an intriguing clash as the Montreal Canadiens prepare to face the visiting Colorado Avalanche. It’s the last time that the two clubs will go at it in the regular season. The match will get going at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 12, and you’ll be able to witness this East-West matchup live on CBC Sports.
Colorado Avalanche at Montreal Canadiens Odds
Colorado (+105) is entering this one as the underdog to Montreal (-125), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-125 for the over, +105 for the under).
Earning 3.0 units for moneyline bettors, the Canadiens are 23-22 straight up (SU) overall this year. That early-season winning percentage is a surprising improvement over the 29-53 record from last year’s regular season campaign. Of its 45 regular season outings, 23 have gone under the total, while 21 have gone over and just one has pushed. The team’s 11-11 SU at home this season.
Montreal has converted on just 12.8 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s ranked 30th overall in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 20th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 78.4 percent of all penalties.
Montreal, as a collective unit, has been penalized 4.0 times per game overall this season, and 4.8 per game over its past five games. The team’s had to defend opposition power plays for 11.2 minutes per contest over its last five home games.
Sporting a .908 save percentage and 26.4 saves per game, Carey Price (16 wins, 18 losses, and four OT losses) has been the top option in goal for the Canadiens this year. If the Habs decide to give him the evening off, however, the team could turn to Antti Niemi (7-5-5 record, .886 save percentage, 3.85 goals against average).
Max Domi and Tomas Tatar will each be offensive focal points for the Canadiens. Domi (39 points) is up to 14 goals and 25 assists and has recorded multiple points eight times this year. Tatar has 14 goals and 19 assists to his name and has notched a point in 22 contests.
Colorado has lost 10.1 units for moneyline bettors this year and is currently 20-24 straight up (SU). Through 44 regular season matches, 24 of its games have gone over the total, while 20 have gone under the total and none have pushed. As a road team, Colorado is 11-13 SU so far.
Colorado has scored on 25.9 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 27th overall and it’s successfully killed off 75.6 percent of all penalties.
Colorado’s players have been called for penalties 4.1 times per game in total this season, and 3.4 per game over their last five on the road. The team has had to kill penalties just 8.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Semyon Varlamov (2.85 goals against average and .908 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Colorado. Varlamov is averaging 27.0 saves per game and has 11 wins, 15 losses, and five OT losses to his credit.
For the visiting Avalanche, the offense will be heavily coordinated by Mikko Rantanen (20 goals, 48 assists) and Nathan MacKinnon (26 goals, 40 assists).
Colorado Avalanche at Montreal Canadiens Betting Predictions
Prediction: SU Winner – Canadiens, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- The total has gone under in each of Montreal’s last five outings.
- The Avalanche are 8-11 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 12-14 in games where they’re in the box for fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.
- Montreal is ranked 20th in the NHL this season with 7.1 takeaways per game. That figure has trended down, however, as the team has forced 6.3 takeaways over its last 10 games and 6.2 takeaways over its last five.
- Colorado is ranked 29th with 5.5 takeaways per game. That figure has trended higher lately, as it has created 6.6 takeaways over its last 10 games and 7.4 takeaways over its last five.
