Free NHL Picks Today: Florida Panthers vs Montreal Canadiens 3/16/23

Free NHL Picks Today: Florida Panthers vs Montreal Canadiens 3/16/23
Thu 16th March 2023

The Florida Panthers (33-27-7) welcome the Montreal Canadiens (27-35-6) at FLA Live Arena on Thursday. Montreal is coming off a high-scoring 6-4 win over the Penguins on Tuesday, breaking a run of seven defeats in a row.

The Canadiens committed five penalties in the game, conceding two power play goals. Six players found the net for the Canadiens. Sam Montembeault had 39 saves in the win.

Florida fell 5-4 (OT) to the Jets on Saturday. Matthew Tkachuk scored twice to lead the Panthers. Sergei Bobrovsky only had 22 saves on 27 shots against (.814%) in the loss.

HEAD TO HEAD

The Panthers have won both games between the teams this season, including a 6-2 victory in their most recent meeting in January. Sam Reinhart led Florida with three points (1G 2A). Rem Pitlick led Montreal with two points (1G 1A). Alex Lyon got the win, saving 23 of 25 shots (.920%).

FACING OFF

Montreal is averaging 2.74 goals per game for the season, 28th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Panthers team that is allowing 3.36 goals a game (23rd).

Meanwhile, Florida has found the net 3.39 times a game on average, ninth in the league, and the Canadiens are allowing opponents to score 3.62 goals per game (27th).

Florida averages more shots a game (36.8) than any other team in the league, though the team’s 9.3% shooting percentage ranks 27th. With an average of 27.5 attempts, Montreal ranks 30th.

Power play opportunities should be plentiful for the Canadiens, as the Panthers have been penalized 4.81 times a game, most in the NHL, for an average of 12.16 minutes (first-highest).

The visitors are averaging 4.31 penalties (sixth) and 11.75 penalty minutes a game (4th). The Canadiens will be seeking to build on their 30th-ranked power play percentage of 15.92% against the Panthers, who are the league’s fifth-weakest penalty killing team (74.18%).

Florida, meanwhile, has scored on 21.68% of their power play opportunities (14th), which the hosts will be aiming to improve on against Montreal’s 31st-ranked 72.65% penalty killing rate.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 51 points this season, Nick Suzuki is the top skater for the Canadiens. He has 21 goals and 30 assists in 68 games. In the net, Montembeault (13-13-3) is Montreal’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 3.31 GAA and a .905% save percentage.

Jake Allen (14-22-3) leads the Canadiens in games played in goal. He has a GAA of 3.43 and a save percentage of .895%. Tkachuk leads the Panthers in scoring with 87 points (6th in the league).

He has 30 goals and 57 assists (5th) in 64 games. Bobrovsky (21-17-3) has the best goals against average for Florida at 2.98. He has a save percentage of .904%.

HOME AND AWAY

Montreal is 13-18-3 away from Bell Centre this season. Florida is 19-10-4 at FLA Live Arena this season.

SportsTips’ NHL Pick:

Florida Panthers -1.5 (-130)

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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.

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