Bell Centre is the site for an intriguing clash as the Montreal Canadiens face off against the visiting Vegas Golden Knights. AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain will air this East-West matchup, which gets going at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, November 10.
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Montreal Canadiens Odds
The Canadiens are 8-8 straight up (SU) and have earned moneyline bettors 1.6 units this year. That early-season winning percentage is a welcomed improvement over the 29-53 record from last year’s regular season campaign. Of the team’s 16 games this season, eight have gone over the total, while seven have gone under and just one has pushed. The team is 5-4 SU at home this season.
Montreal has converted on just 14.3 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that places the team in the bottom-5 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked sixth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 84.2 percent of all penalties.
As a team, Montreal has been penalized 4.2 times per game overall this season, 4.2 per game over its past five matchups total, and 4.0 per game over its last five home outings. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays for just 8.4 minutes per game over its last five outings, in total.
With a .892 save percentage and 25.5 saves per game, Carey Price (5-7-3) has been the principal goalkeeper for the Canadiens this season. If the Habs decide to rest him, however, the team may roll with Antti Niemi (3-1-1 record, .893 save percentage, 3.13 goals against average).
The Habs will continue relying on leadership from Max Domi and Tomas Tatar. Domi (19 points) has tallied nine goals and 10 assists and has recorded multiple points four times this year. Tatar has six goals and eight assists to his credit and has notched a point in seven contests.
Vegas has lost 5.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far and is currently 7-9 straight up (SU). A total of 10 of its contests have gone under the total, while six have gone over and none have pushed. Vegas’ 3-6 SU as the visiting team this season.
Vegas has converted on just 15.1 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s ranked 25th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked seventh overall and it’s successfully killed off 83.3 percent of all opponent power plays.
Vegas’ players have been called for penalties only 3.1 times per game in total this season, 3.0 per game over their past five match ups total, and 2.8 per game over their last five games as the visiting team. The team’s been forced to defend opponent power plays just 7.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Marc-Andre Fleury (.901 save percentage and 2.51 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Vegas. Fleury is averaging 22.1 saves per game and owns a 7-7-1 record.
Jonathan Marchessault (seven goals, seven assists) and William Karlsson (three goals, eight assists) have been the top playmakers for Vegas and will pace the offensive attack for the visiting Golden Knights.
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Montreal Canadiens Betting Predictions
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Canadiens, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- For both of these clubs, the total has gone over in four of their past five games.
- This game features two clubs that have pounded opponents’ nets with shots. Vegas has registered the league’s fifth-most shots on goal (34.3) and Montreal has attempted the seventh-most (33.4).
- The Golden Knights are 1-2 SU in games where they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Canadiens are 2-4 SU when they serve more minutes than their opponent.
- Montreal is 2-0 in games decided by a shootout this season while Vegas is 1-1 in shootouts.
- Montreal has averaged 8.6 takeaways per game over its last five home games, an improvement over its season average of 7.5 takeaways per game (ranked 15th).
- One of the best at creating pressure on opposing teams, Vegas is ranked second in the NHL this season with 10.9 takeaways per game. That figure has trended upward lately, as it has forced 14.1 takeaways over its last 10 games and 12.4 takeaways over its last five.
