The Montreal Canadiens (+260) will be out to halt their losing run when they head to face the Pittsburgh Penguins (-320) at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday. The total is 6.5 (O: -115, U: -105)Montreal (26-35-6) is playing the second of a back-to-back after suffering a high-scoring 8-4 loss against the Avalanche yesterday, their seventh defeat in a row.
The Canadiens committed seven penalties in the game, conceding three power play goals. Four players found the net for the Canadiens. Josh Anderson scored and provided an assist to share the scoring lead with Nick Suzuki, who had two assists. Jake Allen started in the loss and saved only nine of 15 shots against (.600%).
Pittsburgh (34-22-10) is playing their last of five games at home after a 3-2 overtime win over the Rangers on Sunday. Rickard Rakell, Jason Zucker, and Kris Letang scored one apiece for the Penguins. Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby both had two assists to lead the team in scoring. Tristan Jarry saved 27 of 29 shots in the win (.931%).
HEAD TO HEAD
The Canadiens have won both games between the teams this season, including a 5-4 (OT) victory in their most recent meeting in November. Suzuki (1G 1A), Kirby Dach (0G 2A), and Kaiden Guhle (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Montreal. Zucker led Pittsburgh with three points (0G 3A). Allen got the win despite allowing four goals on 24 shots (.833%).
FACING OFF
Montreal is averaging 2.69 goals per game for the season, 28th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Penguins team that is allowing 3.17 goals a game (17th). Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has found the net 3.27 times a game on average, 13th in the league, and the Canadiens are allowing opponents to score 3.61 goals per game (27th).
Pittsburgh averages more shots/game (33.9) than most teams in the league, ranking fifth. With an average of 27.5 attempts, Montreal ranks 30th.
The Canadiens’ 16.08% power play percentage is the third-lowest in the league, while the Penguins rank 16th with a conversion rate of 21.40%.
Montreal has been equally unimpressive at penalty killing, as the away team owns the league’s fourth-lowest PK% at 73.06%. Pittsburgh’s 79.72% ranks 14th in the NHL.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 51 points this season, Suzuki is the top skater for the Canadiens. He has 21 goals and 30 assists in 67 games. In the net, Sam Montembeault (12-13-3) is Montreal’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 3.28 GAA and a .905% save percentage. Allen (14-22-3) leads the Canadiens in games played in goal.
He has a GAA of 3.43 and a save percentage of .895%.Crosby leads the Penguins in scoring with 80 points. He has 29 goals and 51 assists in 66 games. Jarry (20-7-6) has the best goals against average for Pittsburgh at 2.86. He has a save percentage of .913%.
HOME AND AWAY
Montreal has dropped three in a row away from Bell Centre this season. Pittsburgh is 19-9-5 at PPG Paints Arena this season. Meanwhile, the Canadiens are 5-5 without a day off and 3-4 playing with a rest disadvantage. The Penguins are 2-4 with a rest advantage.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Pittsburgh Penguins (-375)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
