In their second head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Montreal Canadiens and the New Jersey Devils collide at the Prudential Center in an Eastern Conference showdown. The match will get underway at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 6 and it can be watched live on Reseau Des Sports.
Montreal Canadiens vs. New Jersey Devils Odds
Montreal (+140) is entering this one as the underdog to New Jersey (-160). The Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals and initially opened at -120 for the over and +100 for the under. That line has since shifted however, and it presently sits at -115 for the over, -105 for the under.
Earning moneyline bettors 4.5 units, New Jersey is 33-33 straight up (SU) overall this year. That early-season winning percentage is a complete turnaround from what the team did during last year’s regular season (28-54). Of the team’s 66 games this season, 32 have gone over the total, while an additional 32 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team is 17-16 SU at home this season.
The Devils have converted on 20.3 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 10th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 82.4 percent of all penalties.
The Devils, as a collective unit, have been penalized 3.8 times per game overall this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five outings home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 6.3 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, in total.
Averaging 28.7 saves per game with a .912 save percentage, Cory Schneider (18-19-6) has been the best option in goal for New Jersey this year. If head coach John Hynes chooses to rest him, however, New Jersey might turn to Keith Kinkaid (15-12-12 record, .904 save percentage, 2.95 goals against average).
The Devils will continue to lean on the offensive production out of Taylor Hall and Nico Hischier. Hall (72 points) is up to 30 goals and 42 assists and has recorded two or more points 20 times this year. Hischier has 13 goals and 28 assists to his name and has recorded a point in 30 games.
On the other bench, Montreal is 25-40 straight up (SU) and has lost 18.5 units for moneyline bettors thus far. A total of 36 of its games have gone under the total, while 27 have gone over and just two have pushed. The Canadiens are 9-22 SU as a road team this season.
The Canadiens have converted on 20.5 percent of their power play chances 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 defended 77.4 percent of all penalties.
Montreal’s players have been penalized 3.8 times per game in total this season, and 4.8 per game over their past five games. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 8.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Carey Price (27.3 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Montreal. Price owns a 15-28-6 record, and has registered a .904 save percentage and 2.98 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Canadiens will be Brendan Gallagher (23 goals, 17 assists) and Alex Galchenyuk (15 goals, 24 assists).
Montreal Canadiens at New Jersey Devils Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Canadiens, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Two of Montreal’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 0-2 in those games and 2-5 overall in shootouts this season.
- The under has hit in each of New Jersey’s last five outings.
- New Jersey has averaged 2.9 goals per game this year, but is averaging 1.7 goals per contest on its three-game losing skid.
- This game features two of the more physical defenses in the league. Montreal skaters have accounted for the second-most hits in the league (25.6 per game) and the Devils have handed the 12th-most (22.1).
