The Montreal Canadiens (+165) travel to take on the Ottawa Senators (-195) at Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday. The total is 6.5 (O: +100, U: -120)Montreal (20-25-4) is coming off a 4-3 overtime loss against the Red Wings on Thursday.
The Canadiens conceded a power play goal while failing to take advantage of their own power play opportunities. Rafael Harvey-Pinard was the top goalscorer for the Canadiens with two goals. Jake Allen saved only 38 of 42 shots against (.904%) in the loss.
Ottawa (22-23-3) is playing the second of a back-to-back after earning an exciting 6-2 win over the Maple Leafs yesterday. Brady Tkachuk was the leading goal scorer for the Senators, netting twice. Anton Forsberg saved 31 of 33 shots in the win (.939%).
HEAD TO HEAD
The Senators won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 3-2 victory in December, their third straight win against Montreal. Alex DeBrincat led Ottawa with three points (0G 3A). Christian Dvorak and Kirby Dach were on the scoresheet for Montreal. Cam Talbot got the win, saving 23 of 25 shots (.920%).
FACING OFF
Montreal is averaging 2.57 goals per game for the season, 30th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Senators team that is allowing 3.23 goals a game (20th).
Meanwhile, Ottawa has found the net 2.92 times a game on average, 24th in the league, and the Canadiens are allowing opponents to score 3.65 goals per game (28th).
Ottawa averages more shots a game (33.6) than most teams in the league, ranking fifth, though the team’s 8.7% shooting percentage is 31st.
With an average of 27.7 attempts, Montreal ranks 30th.Look for several power play opportunities for the Senators, as the Canadiens are averaging 4.61 penalties per game, fourth-most in the NHL.
The visitors’ 12.82 penalty minutes a game ranks first-highest. The home team has been penalized 4.50 times a game (7th) for an average of 11.25 minutes (6th).
The Senators’ 26.37% power play percentage is the fourth-best in the league, while the Canadiens rank 32nd with a conversion rate of just 15.13%. When it comes to defending power plays, Ottawa has the league’s eighth-ranked PK% at 81.44%, while Montreal is 27th at 73.84%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 38 and 36 points this season, Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield have been the top skaters for the Canadiens. Caufield is among the league leaders with his 26 goals (9th). In the net, Sam Montembeault (10-9-2) is Montreal’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 3.14 GAA and a .910% save percentage.
Allen (10-16-2) leads the Canadiens in games played in goal. He has a GAA of 3.53 and a save percentage of .893%. Tkachuk and Tim Stuetzle lead the Senators in scoring with 49 and 45 points, respectively.
Tkachuk has 19 goals and 30 assists, while Stuetzle has 20 goals and 25 assists. Talbot (12-13-1) has the best goals against average for Ottawa at 2.90. He has a save percentage of .905%.
HOME AND AWAY
Montreal is 9-12-3 away from Bell Centre this season. Ottawa is 13-11-1 at Canadian Tire Centre this season. Meanwhile, the Senators are 2-2 without a day off and 1-2 playing with a rest disadvantage. The Canadiens are 2-0 with a rest advantage.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Ottawa Senators (-250)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
