Two teams meeting for the first time this year, the Montreal Canadiens and the Nashville Predators take the ice at Bridgestone Arena for an East-West showdown. Reseau Des Sports will broadcast the matchup, which gets going at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, November 22.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Nashville Predators Odds
The Predators are 12-8 straight up (SU) and have earned 3.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. That winning percentage, the second-best in the Central Division so far this season, is an improvement compared to what the team managed during the 2016-17 season (41-41). Of the teams 20 games this season, 11 have gone over the total, while nine have gone under and none have pushed. This season, the teams 7-2 SU at home.
Nashville currently touts the third-best power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s converted on 23.8 percent of their extra-man advantages this year. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 12th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.0 percent of all penalties.
Nashville, as a collective unit, has been penalized 6.0 times per game overall this season, and 4.8 per game over its last five outings. The team has had to kill penalties for a whopping 15.7 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, overall.
Boasting a .921 save percentage and 29.3 saves per game, Pekka Rinne (11-5-2) has been the best option in goal for the Predators this year. If they, however, choose to rest him, head coach Peter Laviolette could turn to Juuse Saros (1-3-3 record, .855 save percentage, 3.94 goals against average).
Filip Forsberg and P.K. Subban will each spearhead the attack for the Predators. Forsberg (21 points) has produced nine goals and 12 assists and has recorded two or more points in six different games this year. Subban has four goals and 12 assists to his credit and has notched a point in 10 contests.
Over on the other bench, Montreal is 8-14 straight up (SU) and has lost 7.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. A total of 11 of its outings have gone over the total, while eight have gone under and just two have pushed. As the road team so far, Montreal is 4-7 SU.
Montreal has converted on just 15.4 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s ranked 27th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 27th overall and it’s successfully killed off 76.7 percent of all penalties.
Montreal’s players have been penalized 4.1 times per game this season, and 4.8 per game over their last five games. The team has had to defend opponent power plays 9.8 minutes per contest over their last five road games.
Carey Price (25.3 saves per game) has been the main option in the net for Montreal. Price has three wins, eight losses, and one OT loss to his credit, and has registered a .877 save percentage and 3.77 goals against average this year.
Brendan Gallagher (nine goals, five assists) and Jonathan Drouin (three goals, 10 assists) are the top point-getters for Montreal and will lead the offensive counter for the visiting Canadiens.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Nashville Predators Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Predators, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- The over has hit in each of Nashville’s last five games.
- The Canadiens have averaged the leagues second-most shots on goal (36.3) and Nashville has attempted the 29th-most (only 29.0).
- Power plays and penalty kills may be key in the outcome of this game. The Canadiens are 4-5 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 4-10 when they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 total minutes. The Predators are 4-1 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 5-1 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
- Nashville is ranked 18th overall with 6.8 takeaways per game. That figures trended higher recently, as the team has managed 7.6 takeaways over its last 10 games and 8.6 takeaways over its last five.
- Montreal has managed just 1.5 goals per game, while allowing 4.0, over its last four games (0-4 SU over that span).
- Montreal skaters have created 5.8 takeaways per game over its last five road games, right in line with its season average of 5.7 takeaways per game (ranked 25th overall).
