The Montreal Canadiens, spearheaded by Tomas Tatar and Shea Weber, are set to take the ice against Tyler Bertuzzi, Dylan Larkin, and the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena in an Original Six showdown. Fox Sports Detroit will broadcast the game, and the opening face-off is at 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 7.
Montreal Canadiens at Detroit Red Wings Odds
Oddsmakers have not yet posted moneyline or Over/Under odds for this matchup.
Montreal is 18-25 straight up (SU) and has lost 10.8 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 21 of its games have gone over the total, while 19 have gone under and just two have pushed. As a road team in 2019-20, the Habs are 10-11 SU.
Montreal has converted on 21.7 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 25th overall, and it has successfully killed off only 77.0 percent of its penalties..
Sporting a .902 save percentage and 27.0 saves per game, Carey Price (16-19-4) has been the best option in goal for Montreal this season. Price did just play last night, however, so the team could opt to rest him and instead go with Keith Kinkaid (1-5-3 record, .875 save percentage, 4.24 goals against average).
Over on the other bench, Detroit is 10-33 straight up (SU) and has lost 16.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. 20 of its matches have gone over the total, while 18 have gone under and just five have pushed. The team’s 6-15 SU at home this year.
The Red Wings have converted on just 15.7 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that places them in the bottom 10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 30th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 73.8 percent of all penalties.
Jonathan Bernier (26.0 saves per game) has been the primary selection in goal for the Red Wings. Bernier has eight wins, 18 losses, and two OT losses and has registered a fairly-weak .904 save percentage and 3.04 goals against average this year.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Detroit Red Wings Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Red Wings, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- Seven of Detroit’s last ten games have been decided by two or more goals. The team is 1-6 overall in those games.
- Power-play opportunities may play a critical role in this matchup. The Canadiens are 6-9 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 15-17 in games where they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Red Wings are 5-11 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 7-23 when total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
- The total has gone under in four of Detroit’s last five outings.
- Montreal has averaged 6.8 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 11.6 giveaways per game (ranked 25th in the NHL).
- Detroit skaters have averaged 19.8 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 12.3 giveaways per game (ranked 27th in the league).
- This game features a couple of the tougher defenses in the league. Montreal skaters have accounted for the third-most hits in the league (27.9 per game) while the Red Wings have registered the 12th-most (22.1).
