Two of the league’s most penalized teams are set to meet at Bell Centre on Saturday, as the Montreal Canadiens (+145) host the Ottawa Senators (-170). The total is 6.5 (O: -115, U: -105)Both teams will be playing on back-to-back days. The Senators are 4-3 without rest, while the Canadiens are 5-3. Ottawa (27-26-4) is coming off a 4-0 loss against the Hurricanes yesterday.
The Senators committed only two penalties in the game, holding Carolina without a power play goal. Cam Talbot only had 26 saves on 29 shots against (.896%) in the loss.
Montreal (25-29-4) beat the Flyers 5-2 yesterday. Five players found the net for the Canadiens. Jesse Ylonen scored and provided an assist to share the scoring lead with Mike Hoffman, who had two assists. Jake Allen had 24 saves.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Senators have won all three games between the teams this season, including a 5-4 victory in their most recent meeting in January, their fifth straight win against Montreal.
Tim Stuetzle led Ottawa with four points (2G 2A). Four players had two points for Montreal. Anton Forsberg got the win despite allowing four goals on 32 shots (.875%).
FACING OFF
Ottawa is averaging 2.98 goals per game for the season, 21st in the NHL, and they are taking on a Canadiens team that is allowing 3.60 goals a game (27th).
Meanwhile, Montreal has found the net 2.71 times a game on average, 27th in the league, and the Senators are allowing opponents to score 3.21 goals per game (18th).
Montreal averages fewer shots per game (27.8) than most teams in the league, ranking 30th. With an average of 33.3 attempts, Ottawa ranks eighth. Look for a few power play opportunities during the game, as the Senators and Canadiens have more penalties per game than most teams in the NHL.
The Canadiens have been penalized 4.48 times a game on average (28th), while the Senators are averaging 4.54 penalties, third-most in the league.
The Canadiens’ 17.05% power play percentage is the fifth-worst in the league, while the Senators rank sixth with a conversion rate of 25.23%. Montreal has been equally inefficient at penalty killing, as the hosts own the league’s fifth-lowest PK% at 73.87%. Ottawa’s 82.44% ranks sixth in the NHL.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 60 and 59 points this season, Brady Tkachuk and Stuetzle have been the top skaters for the Senators. In the net, Talbot (12-13-1) is Ottawa’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.90 GAA and a .905% save percentage.
Nick Suzuki leads the Canadiens in scoring with 45 points. He has 19 goals and 26 assists in 58 games. Sam Montembeault (12-11-2) has the best goals against average for Montreal at 3.24.
He has a save percentage of .908%. Allen (12-18-2) has played the most games in net for the Canadiens this season. He has a 3.47 GAA and a .894% save percentage.
HOME AND AWAY
Ottawa is 11-14-2 on the road this season. Montreal has won three in a row at Bell Centre this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Ottawa Senators (-175)
Want up to a $1K risk free bet for this pick?
Claim with 
today!
If you need more news, information and predictions, head over to our NHL hub page for all your NHL needs!
*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
