The Montreal Canadiens (18-23-3), one of the NHL’s top penalty killing teams, welcome the Winnipeg Jets (29-14-1) and their weak power play offense at Bell Centre on Tuesday. Winnipeg is embarking on a five-game road trip coming off a 2-1 win over the Coyotes on Sunday, their third straight win.
The Jets committed only two penalties in the game, holding Arizona without a power play goal. Pierre-Luc Dubois and Blake Wheeler both scored once for the Jets. Connor Hellebuyck saved an impressive 20 of 21 shots (.952%) in the win.
Montreal is returning home for a five-game homestand after a 2-1 win over the Rangers on Sunday. Cole Caufield and Kirby Dach both scored once for the Canadiens. Caufield added an assist to lead the team in scoring. Sam Montembeault was impressive in the win, making 38 saves (.974%).
HEAD TO HEAD
The Jets won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 3-2 (OT) victory in November, their third straight win against Montreal. Dubois and Kyle Connor each had two points (1G 1A) to lead Winnipeg. Nick Suzuki (1G 1A) and Caufield (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Montreal. Hellebuyck got the win, saving 20 of 22 shots (.909%).
FACING OFF
Winnipeg is averaging 3.34 goals per game for the season, ninth in the NHL, and they are taking on a Canadiens team that is allowing 3.68 goals a game (27th).
Meanwhile, Montreal has found the net 2.55 times a game on average, 30th in the league, and won’t find goals any easier to come by against the Jets’ stout defense, which is holding opponents to 2.59 goals per game (2nd).
Montreal averages fewer shots/game (28.0) than most teams in the league, ranking 30th. Winnipeg has proven up to the task of stopping shots, ranking No. 3 with a team save percentage of .922%.
Power play opportunities are likely to be plentiful for the Jets, as the Canadiens have been penalized 4.52 times a game, fifth-most in the NHL, for an average of 12.34 minutes (first-highest).
The visitors are averaging 3.59 penalties (25th) and 8.45 penalty minutes a game (22nd). The Canadiens’ 30th-ranked power play offense (16.30%) will face a tough test against the Jets, who are the league’s third-best penalty killing team (83.87%).
Winnipeg, meanwhile, has scored on 24.24% of their power play opportunities (10th), which the visiting team will be seeking to add to against Montreal’s 21st-ranked 75.48% penalty killing rate.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 53 and 49 points this season, Connor and Dubois have been the top skaters for the Jets. In the net, Hellebuyck (21-10-1) is Winnipeg’s top goaltender.
He has a 2.41 GAA and a .925% save percentage, third-best in the league.Suzuki and Caufield lead the Canadiens in scoring with 37 and 36 points, respectively.
Suzuki has 16 goals and 21 assists, while Caufield has 26 goals and 10 assists. Montembeault (7-7-2) has the best goals against average for Montreal at 3.31.
He has a save percentage of .905%. 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
Winnipeg is 12-8-1 away from Canada Life Centre this season. Montreal is 9-11-0 at Bell Centre this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Winnipeg Jets (-250)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
