Canadian Tire Centre is playing host to an intriguing tilt as the Montreal Canadiens travel to Ottawa to face the Senators. This divisional matchup will get underway at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 11, and it can be seen live on CBC Sports.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Ottawa Senators Odds
Montreal (-145) is being picked as the favorite over Ottawa (+125), and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 7 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -110 money on the over and -110 for the under.
Montreal is 18-27 straight up (SU) and has lost 15.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. 22 of its contests have gone over the total, while 21 have gone under and just two have pushed. As the road team this season, the Habs are 10-12 SU.
Montreal has converted on 21.3 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked 25th out of 31 teams, and it’s successfully killed off only 77.3 percent of all penalties.
Montreal, as a collective unit, has been penalized just 3.2 times per game in the 2019-20 season, 3.2 per game over its last five total, and 3.0 per game over its last five games as the visiting team. The team has had to kill penalties just 7.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 26.8 saves per game with a .901 save percentage, Carey Price (16-20-4) has been the best option in goal for Montreal this season. If head coach Claude Julien chooses to rest him, however, Montreal may turn to Keith Kinkaid (1-5-3 record, .875 save percentage, 4.24 goals against average).
The visiting Canadiens have relied on Tomas Tatar and Max Domi this year. Tatar has 38 points via 16 goals and 22 assists, and has recorded two or more points in nine different games. Domi has 12 goals and 21 assists to his credit, and has notched a point in 25 games.
Ottawa is 16-28 straight up (SU) and has lost 6.0 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 25 of its matches have gone over the total, while 18 have gone under and none have pushed. It’s 11-9 SU at home this season.
Ottawa has converted on just 11.9 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s ranked 31st in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 17th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.9 percent of all penalties.
Ottawa skaters have been sent to the penalty box 4.1 times per game this season, and 3.4 per game over their past ten outings. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays 9.6 minutes per game over their last five home outings.
Anders Nilsson has denied 28.5 shots per game as the top choice in the crease for Ottawa. Nilsson has nine wins, 11 losses, and two OT losses to his credit and has recorded a poor .908 save percentage and 3.18 goals against average this season.
Anthony Duclair (21 goals, 11 assists) will pace the offensive attack for the Senators.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Ottawa Senators Betting Predictions
NHL Prediction: SU Winner – Senators, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- Montreal is 2-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Ottawa is 0-3 in shootouts.
- For both of these teams, the over has hit in each of their last five games.
- The Canadiens have averaged the league’s most shots on goal (35.1) while Ottawa has attempted the 26th-most (just 29.7).
- Ottawa has allowed 3.5 goals per game (overall) this season, but is allowing 4.8 goals per matchup in its last six contests (the team is 0-6 SU over that stretch).
- Five of Ottawa’s last ten games have been decided by two or more goals, and the club is 1-4 overall in those games.
- This game features two of the more aggressive defenses in the league. Montreal skaters have accounted for the fourth-most hits in the league (27.7 per game) and the Sens have registered the sixth-most (27.3).
