Bell Centre is the site for an East-West clash as the Montreal Canadiens take the ice against the visiting Nashville Predators. It’s the final time that the two clubs will meet in the regular season. The match will get going at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 10, and it is being televised live on CBC Sports.
Nashville Predators vs. Montreal Canadiens Odds
Nashville (-145) is currently favored over Montreal (+125), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -120 under, +100 over.
Nashville is 32-21 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 6.6 units this season. Through 53 regular season outings, 27 of its games have gone under the total, while 26 have gone over and none have pushed. This 2017-18 Predators team is 14-13 SU on the road.
Nashville has converted on 23.4 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. Additionally, it has the seventh-strongest penalty kill in the league, and it’s successfully killed off 82.5 percent of its penalties.
Nashville, as a collective unit, has been sent to the penalty box 4.7 times per game overall in the 2017-18 season, and 3.4 per game over its last five on the road. The teams had to kill penalties just 7.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 28.6 saves per game with a .926 save percentage, Pekka Rinne (27-12-4) has been the best option in goal for Nashville this year. If it chooses to give him a rest, however, the team might roll with Juuse Saros (5-10-5 record, .924 save percentage, 2.44 goals against average).
P.K. Subban and Filip Forsberg will both be relied on to facilitate things for the visiting Predators. Subban (43 points) is up to 15 goals and 28 assists, and has recorded two or more points in 10 different games. Forsberg has 16 goals and 22 assists to his credit, and has logged a point in 26 games.
On the other bench, Montreal is 22-32 straight up (SU) and has lost 13.6 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 54 regular season outings, 29 of its games have gone under the total, while 23 have gone over and just two have pushed. It’s 14-15 SU as the home team this season.
Montreal has converted on 22.0 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 26th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 77.9 percent of all penalties.
Montreal skaters have been whistled for penalties 3.7 times per game in total this season, 3.4 per game over their last five contests total, and 3.2 per game over their last five home outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 7.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Carey Price (27.5 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for Montreal. Price has 15 wins, 24 losses, and four OT losses and has maintained a fairly-weak .906 save percentage and 2.95 goals against average this season.
The home team offense will be led by Max Pacioretty (16 goals, 17 assists).
Nashville Predators at Montreal Canadiens Free Picks
Free Pick: SU Winner – Canadiens, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- The under has hit in three of Montreal’s last five games.
- Power plays and penalty kills could be key tonight. The Predators are 14-3 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 16-10 in games where they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Canadiens are 8-10 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 16-23 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
- Two of Nashville’s last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 4-5 overall in shootouts this season.
- Montreal is ranked 17th in the NHL this season with 7.2 takeaways per game. That figures trended higher lately, as it has forced 8.4 takeaways over its last 10 games and 9.6 takeaways over its last five.
- Nashville is ranked 13th in the NHL with 7.8 takeaways per game. That figure has trended upward lately, as it’s averaged 9.9 takeaways over its last 10 games and 8.6 takeaways over its last five.
