The Montreal Canadiens (-120) play host to the Columbus Blue Jackets (+100) at Bell Centre on Saturday. The total is 6 (O: -120, U: +100)Columbus (23-41-7) is playing on back-to-back days after earning a high-scoring 5-4 overtime win over the Islanders yesterday.
The Blue Jackets committed only one penalty in the game, yet still conceded a power play goal. Five players found the net for the Blue Jackets. Michael Hutchinson allowed four goals on 38 shots against (.894%) in the win.
Montreal (28-38-6) fell 4-2 to the Bruins on Thursday. Kirby Dach and Nick Suzuki each scored once for the Canadiens. Suzuki and Dach both added an assist to lead the team in scoring. Jake Allen saved only 17 of 21 shots against (.809%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The teams have split their two meetings this season, the most recent of which was a 3-1 victory for the Canadiens in November. Arber Xhekaj, Sean Monahan, and David Savard were on the scoresheet for Montreal. Mathieu Olivier scored Columbus’ only goal. Sam Montembeault got the win, saving 30 of 31 shots (.967%).
FACING OFF
Columbus is averaging just 2.72 goals per game for the season, 29th in the NHL. The visitors will look to take advantage of a Canadiens team that is allowing 3.69 goals a game (28th). Meanwhile, Montreal has found the net 2.76 times a game on average, 27th in the league, and the Blue Jackets are allowing opponents to score 3.89 goals per game (31st).
Montreal averages fewer shots a game (27.4) than most teams in the league, ranking 30th, though the team’s 10.3% shooting percentage is 14th. With an average of 29.8 attempts, Columbus ranks 25th.
The Canadiens’ 17.06% power play percentage is the fifth-worst in the league, while the Blue Jackets rank 23rd with a conversion rate of 19.35%.
Montreal has been equally inefficient at penalty killing, as the hosts own the league’s fourth-lowest PK% at 72.88%. Columbus’ 75.96% ranks 22nd in the NHL.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 67 points this season, Johnny Gaudreau is the top skater for the Blue Jackets. He has 18 goals and 49 assists in 69 games. In the net, Joonas Korpisalo (14-11-4) is Columbus’ top goaltender by goals against average.
He has a 3.01 GAA and a .912% save percentage. Elvis Merzlikins (7-17-2) leads the Blue Jackets in games played in goal. He has a GAA of 4.10 and a save percentage of .880%.Suzuki leads the Canadiens in scoring with 57 points.
He has 22 goals and 35 assists. Montembeault (14-14-3) has the best goals against average for Montreal at 3.32. He has a save percentage of .905%. Allen (14-24-3) has played the most games in net for the Canadiens this season. He has a 3.57 GAA and a .891% save percentage.
HOME AND AWAY
Columbus is 9-21-5 on the road this season. Montreal is 15-17-3 at home this season. Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets are 3-11 without a day off and 1-6 playing with a rest disadvantage. The Canadiens are 2-1 with a rest advantage.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Columbus Blue Jackets (+130)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
