Two teams facing each other for the first time this season, the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Montreal Canadiens clash at Bell Centre. The Sports Network will broadcast this Eastern Conference matchup, and the opening face-off takes place at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 12.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Montreal Canadiens Odds
Montreal (-175) is being tabbed as the favorite over Columbus (+155) and the Over/Under (O/U) is placed at 6 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -110 money on the over and -110 for the under.
The Canadiens are 9-8 straight-up (SU) and have netted 1.2 units for moneyline bettors this season. That winning percentage, the third-best in the Atlantic Division in this young season, is fairly close to the 44-38 record the team produced during the 2018-19 season campaign. Of the team’s 17 games this season, nine have gone over the total, while seven have gone under and just one has pushed. This season, the team is 5-3 SU at home.
Montreal has converted on 21.4 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 29th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 72.2 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, Montreal has been penalized just 3.2 times per game overall this season, 3.2 per game over its last five contests total, and 3.2 per game over its last five at home. The team’s had to stave off opposition power plays for just 6.2 minutes per game over its last 10 matchups, overall.
Sporting a .914 save percentage and 28.9 saves per game, Carey Price (8-6-2) has been the top goalkeeper for the Canadiens this season. If they, however, decide to give him the evening off, Montreal might go with Keith Kinkaid (1-2-2 record, .879 save percentage, 4.35 goals against average).
Jonathan Drouin and Tomas Tatar will each look to continue their strong seasons for the Canadiens. Drouin (15 points) has tallied seven goals and eight assists and has recorded multiple points on two separate occasions this year. Tatar has five goals and nine assists to his name and has notched at least one point in 10 games.
Columbus has lost 4.2 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year and is currently 6-11 straight up (SU). A total of 10 of its contests have gone under the total, while six have gone over and just one has pushed. As the visiting team, Columbus is 3-5 SU so far.
Columbus has converted on just 14.3 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s ranked 24th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 26th overall and it’s successfully killed off 76.5 percent of all penalties.
Columbus’ players have been penalized 3.4 times per game this season, 3.4 per game over their last five outings total, and 3.6 per game over their last five games as the visiting team. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 7.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Joonas Korpisalo (25.6 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Columbus. Korpisalo owns a 6-8-1 record, while registering a .895 save percentage and 3.13 goals against average this year.
Gustav Nyquist (three goals, eight assists) has been one of the primary playmaking threats for the visiting Blue Jackets.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Montreal Canadiens Free Picks
Free Prediction: SU Winner – Canadiens, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- The under has hit in three of Montreal’s last five outings.
- Two clubs that fire the puck on goal a lot, Columbus has registered the league’s seventh-most shots on goal (33.6) while Montreal has attempted the seventh-most (33.6).
- Over Columbus’ last ten games, four of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 0-4 in those games).
- The Habs this season have handed out the seventh-most hits per game in the NHL (26.2).
