The Montreal Canadiens (+130) host the Nashville Predators (-150) at Bell Centre on Thursday. The total is 6.5 (O: +100, U: -120)Nashville (19-15-6) is playing their last of five games on the road with the second of a back-to-back after suffering a 2-1 loss against the Maple Leafs yesterday, ending a four-game unbeaten streak.
The Predators committed four penalties in the game, conceding one power play goal. Filip Forsberg scored the lone goal for the Predators. Juuse Saros saved an impressive 33 of 35 shots (.942%) in the loss.
Montreal (16-22-3) is wrapping up a four-game homestand after a 4-0 loss against the Kraken on Monday. Sam Montembeault saved 37 of 40 shots (.925%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Predators won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 6-3 victory on January 3. Nino Niederreiter led Nashville with three points (0G 3A). Josh Anderson, Brendan Gallagher, and Cole Caufield were on the scoresheet for Montreal. Saros got the win despite saving only 24 of 27 shots (.888%).
FACING OFF
Nashville is averaging 2.75 goals per game for the season, 27th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Canadiens team that is allowing 3.80 goals a game (29th). Meanwhile, Montreal has found the net 2.56 times a game on average, 29th in the league, and the Predators are allowing opponents to score 2.90 goals per game (13th).
Montreal averages fewer shots a game (27.8) than most teams in the league, ranking 30th. Nashville has been up to the task of stopping shots, ranking No. 3 with a team save percentage of .921%. Don’t be surprised to see a few power play opportunities for the Predators, as the Canadiens have been penalized 4.61 times a game, fifth-most in the NHL, for an average of 12.68 minutes (first-highest).
The visitors are averaging 4.28 penalties (ninth) and 10.55 penalty minutes a game (6th). The Canadiens’ 14.84% power play percentage is the second-worst in the league, while Nashville’s 16.91% conversion rate ranks fifth-lowest. When it comes to defending power plays, Nashville has the league’s 13th-ranked PK% at 80.14%, while Montreal is 22nd at 74.32%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 37 points this season, Forsberg is the top skater for the Predators. He has 17 goals and 20 assists in 40 games. In the net, Saros (15-10-5) is Nashville’s top goaltender. He has a 2.67 GAA and a .921% save percentage. Nick Suzuki and Caufield lead the Canadiens in scoring with 34 and 32 points, respectively.
Suzuki has 15 goals and 19 assists, while Caufield has 23 goals (9th) and nine assists () in 41 games. Montembeault (6-6-2) has the best goals against average for Montreal at 3.42. He has a save percentage of .900%. Jake Allen (10-16-1) has played the most games in net for the Canadiens this season. He has a 3.52 GAA and a .892% save percentage.
HOME AND AWAY
Nashville is 10-9-3 away from Bridgestone Arena this season. Montreal is 8-11-0 at home this season. Meanwhile, the Predators are 3-2 without a day off and 1-1 playing with a rest disadvantage. The Canadiens are 1-0 with a rest advantage.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Nashville Predators (-175)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
