Free NHL Picks Today: Montreal Canadiens vs Arizona Coyotes 10/20/22

The Arizona Coyotes (1-2-0) travel to face the Montreal Canadiens (2-2-0) at Bell Centre on Thursday. Arizona is coming off a 4-2 win over the Maple Leafs on Monday. The Coyotes committed six penalties in the game, conceding one power play goal. Four players found the net for the Coyotes. Karel Vejmelka saved an impressive 26 of 28 shots (.928%) in the win. Montreal beat the Penguins 3-2 (OT) on Monday. Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Kirby Dach scored one apiece for the Canadiens. Suzuki added an assist to share the scoring lead with Kaiden Guhle, who had two assists. Sam Montembeault saved 26 of 28 shots in the win (.928%).

HEAD TO HEAD

The Coyotes won both games between the teams last season, including a 6-3 victory in their final meeting in March, their third straight win against Montreal. Lawson Crouse and Clayton Keller each had two points (1G 1A) to lead Arizona. Vejmelka got the win, saving 36 of 39 shots (.923%).

FACING OFF

Arizona is averaging 3.00 goals per game so far this season, 20th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Canadiens team that is allowing 2.75 goals a game (13th). Meanwhile, Montreal has found the net 2.00 times a game on average, 28th in the league, and the Coyotes are allowing opponents to score 4.67 goals per game (27th). Arizona averages fewer shots (23.7) than any other team in the league, though the team’s 12.7% shooting percentage is ninth. Montreal’s average of 28.3 attempts ranks 23rd. The Coyotes’ 38.46% power play percentage is the fourth-best in the league, while the Canadiens rank 28th with a conversion rate of just 7.69%. In terms of penalty killing, Montreal has the league’s sixth-ranked PK% at 91.67%, while Arizona is 22nd at 71.43%.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With five points so far this season, Shayne Gostisbehere is the top skater for the Coyotes. He has two goals and three assists in three games. In the net, Vejmelka (1-2-0) is Arizona’s top goaltender. He has a 4.36 GAA and a .894% save percentage. Suzuki leads the Canadiens in scoring with five points. He has two goals and three assists in four games. Jake Allen (1-1-0) has the best goals against average for Montreal at 2.03. He has a save percentage of .943%.