Free NHL Picks Today: Vancouver Canucks vs Montreal Canadiens 12/5/22

The Vancouver Canucks (10-12-3) welcome the Montreal Canadiens (12-11-1) at Rogers Arena on Monday. Montreal is coming off a high-scoring 5-3 loss against the Oilers on Saturday. The Canadiens committed six penalties in the game, conceding three power play goals.

Nick Suzuki, Arber Xhekaj, and Evgenii Dadonov scored one apiece for the Canadiens. Jake Allen saved only 17 of 22 shots against (.772%) in the loss. Vancouver is playing their last of four games at home after a 3-2 overtime win over the Coyotes on Saturday. Bo Horvat was the leading goal scorer for the Canucks, netting twice. Spencer Martin saved 21 of 23 shots.

HEAD TO HEAD

The Canadiens won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 5-2 victory in November. Kirby Dach (2G 0A) and Suzuki (1G 1A) each had two points to lead Montreal. Nils Hoglander and Luke Schenn were on the scoresheet for Vancouver. Sam Montembeault got the win, saving 31 of 33 shots (.939%).

FACING OFF

Montreal is averaging 2.79 goals per game for the season, 26th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Canucks team that is allowing 3.76 goals a game (30th). Meanwhile, Vancouver has found the net 3.36 times a game on average, 11th in the league, and the Canadiens are allowing opponents to score 3.46 goals per game (23rd).

The Canadiens will be seeking to add to their 29th-ranked power play percentage of 17.57% against the Canucks, who are the league’s fourth-weakest penalty killing team (67.53%). Vancouver, meanwhile, has scored on 26.37% of their power play opportunities (6th), which the hosts will be aiming to improve on against Montreal’s 10th-ranked 79.52% penalty killing rate.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 26 points this season, Suzuki is the top skater for the Canadiens. He has 13 goals and 13 assists in 24 games. In the net, Montembeault (5-2-1) is Montreal’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.47 GAA and a .924% save percentage, fifth-best in the league. Allen (7-8-0) leads the Canadiens in games played in goal. He has a GAA of 3.40 and a save percentage of .898%.

Elias Pettersson leads the Canucks in scoring with 29 points. He has 11 goals and 18 assists. Martin (6-2-1) has the best goals against average for Vancouver at 3.21. He has a save percentage of .900%. Thatcher Demko (3-10-2) has played the most games in net for the Canucks this season. He has a 3.93 GAA and a .883% save percentage.