In their third and final head-to-head matchup of the regular season, the Montreal Canadiens and the Carolina Hurricanes face off at PNC Arena in an Eastern Conference tilt. The puck drops at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 1, and you are able to catch the game live on Reseau Des Sports.
Montreal Canadiens at Carolina Hurricanes Odds
Carolina (-150) is currently the favorite over Montreal (+130), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-125 money on the under, +105 on the over).
Carolina is 23-27 straight up (SU) and has lost 5.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage is right in line with the 36-46 record the team managed during last year’s regular season campaign. Among the team’s 50 games this season, 23 have gone under the total, while 23 have gone over and just two have pushed. The team’s 11-11 SU at home this year.
The Hurricanes have converted on 19.3 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 26th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 77.5 percent of all penalties.
As a team, the Hurricanes have been penalized just 2.8 times per game overall this season, and 3.6 per game over their last five at home. The team has had to kill penalties for just 7.4 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, overall.
Averaging 23.9 saves per game with a .892 save percentage, Scott Darling (9-20-6) has been the best option in goal for Carolina this year. If head coach Bill Peters decides to give him a breather, however, the team might roll with Cam Ward (14-10-10 record, .907 save percentage, 2.78 goals against average).
Teuvo Teravainen and Sebastian Aho will each be offensive focal points for the Hurricanes. Teravainen (40 points) has tallied 13 goals and 27 assists and has recorded two or more points in 10 different games this year. Aho has 17 goals and 21 assists to his credit and has notched a point in 24 games.
Montreal is 20-30 straight up (SU) and has lost 13.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of 27 of its outings have gone under the total, while 21 have gone over and just two have pushed. The Canadiens are 8-15 SU as the away team this season.
The Canadiens have converted on 20.0 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 25th overall and it’s successfully killed off 78.1 percent of all opponent power plays.
Montreal’s skaters have been penalized 3.8 times per game this season, and 3.0 per game over their last ten outings. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays just 6.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Carey Price (27.6 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for Montreal. Price owns a 14-22-4 record, and has registered a .905 save percentage and 3.00 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Canadiens will be Max Pacioretty (16 goals, 15 assists) and Alex Galchenyuk (12 goals, 16 assists).
Montreal Canadiens vs. Carolina Hurricanes Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner – Canadiens, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- Two of Montreal’s last ten games have ended in a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 2-2 overall in shootouts this season.
- The under has hit in three of Carolina’s last five outings.
- Two teams that shoot the puck early and often, Montreal has attempted the league’s sixth-most shots on goal (33.8) while Carolina has attempted the fourth-most (34.3).
- Six of Carolina’s last ten contests have been decided by two or more goals. The team is 2-4 overall in those games.
- Montreal skaters have accounted for the league’s third-most hits per game (25.5), but the team’s recorded just 22.0 hits over their last five away games.
