In their second head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Detroit Red Wings and the Montreal Canadiens collide at Bell Centre for an Original Six tilt. Sportsnet will broadcast the action, which gets going at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 2.
Detroit Red Wings at Montreal Canadiens Odds
Montreal (-165) is currently favored over Detroit (+145), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-125 for the under, +105 for the over).
The Canadiens are 12-15 straight up (SU) and have recorded -5.5 units for moneyline bettors thus far. That early-season winning percentage is a noticeable slide from what the team managed during last years regular season (47-35). 13 of its 27 outings have gone under the total, while 12 have gone over and just two have pushed. The team is 7-7 SU at home this season.
Montreal’s converted on just 17.2 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that puts the team in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 26th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 76.9 percent of all penalties.
As a team, Montreal has been whistled for penalties 4.1 times per game overall this season, and 4.8 per game over its last five home outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties for just 8.0 minutes per game over its last five matchups, overall.
Averaging 27.1 saves per game with a .902 save percentage, Carey Price (7-8-1) has been the top option in goal for the Canadiens this season. If head coach Claude Julien decides to rest him, however, the Habs could turn to Charlie Lindgren (3-5-5 record, .924 save percentage, 2.43 goals against average).
The Habs will continue to lean on the leadership from Brendan Gallagher and Jonathan Drouin. Gallagher (18 points) has tallied 12 goals and six assists and has recorded two or more points in three different games this year. Drouin has five goals and 12 assists to his name and has recorded a point in 12 contests.
Detroit is 10-16 straight up (SU) and has lost 6.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. A total of 13 of its contests have gone over the total, while another 13 have gone under and none have pushed. As the visiting team so far, Detroit is 6-7 SU.
Detroit has scored on 23.2 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s good enough for seventh-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked ninth overall and it’s successfully killed off 82.6 percent of all penalties.
Detroit’s players have been called for penalties 4.3 times per game in total this season, and 2.6 per game over their last five road outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 5.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Jimmy Howard (27.0 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for Detroit. Howard owns an 8-13-4 record, and has registered a .915 save percentage and 2.75 goals against average this year.
Anthony Mantha (12 goals, 10 assists) and Dylan Larkin (four goals, 18 assists) are the top point-getters for Detroit and will lead the offensive attack for the visiting Red Wings.
Detroit Red Wings at Montreal Canadiens Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Canadiens, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Detroit is 2-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Montreal is 1-1 in shootouts.
- The under has hit in four of Montreal’s last five outings.
- Montreal has allowed 3.1 goals per game overall this year, but has brought that figure down to 1.3 per match up over its four-game winning streak.
- Over Detroit’s last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 2-4 in those games).
- The Canadiens this season have registered the sixth-most hits per game (24.4), but the teams averaged 30.4 over their last five home outings.
