Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens Prediction, NHL Odds
We have Original Six hockey as a highlight of the St. Patrick’s Day schedule Tuesday as the Boston Bruins visit the Montreal Canadiens in their final matchup of the season. The Habs are -170 with a total of 6.5 on the NHL odds.
Bruins vs. Canadiens NHL Betting Odds
While Tuesday is the final meeting of the season between the Original Six rivals, they could meet in the Stanley Cup playoffs if the seeding works out right in the Atlantic Division or each advances far enough. Currently, the Canadiens hold down third in the Atlantic Division but are only two points out of second and home-ice advantage in Round 1 of the playoffs. Boston holds the Eastern Conference’s final wild-card spot but is only a point behind Montreal.
Boston leads the season series 2-1, getting each of its victories by a single goal, including 3-2 at Bell Centre in the first meeting on Nov. 15. Star David Pastrnak leads the Bruins with four points, all assists, but is minus-4. Jeremy Swayman, the No. 2 for Team USA in this year’s Olympics, started all three in net and has a 3.68 goals-against average and .866 save percentage. Cole Caufield (5G) and Nick Suzuki (1G, 4A) lead Montreal with five points each. Sam Montembeault allowed seven goals on 44 shots in his two losses, while Jacob Fowler allowed two goals on 28 shots in his win.
Boston is 7-3 in the past 10 meetings overall, and the over-under is 6-4.
Boston Bruins
It’s the second of a back-to-back for Boston after losing 4-3 in overtime at New Jersey on Monday to fall to 1-8 in its past nine on the road. The Bruins led 2-0 after one but needed David Pastrnak’s 26th goal of the year (second of the game) at 4:32 of the third to tie the game at three. The Devils’ Paul Cotter won it at 4:53 of OT. Boston has now alternated wins and losses over its 10 games since the Olympic break. It used backup Joonas Korpisalo in net Monday, meaning it will be No. 1 Jeremy Swayman tonight. The American has great home numbers but away is 10-9-2 with a 3.32 GAA that is more than a goal higher than his road number. Pastrnak, incidentally, has recorded a point in each of his previous 13 games against the Canadiens dating to Jan. 24, 2023. The only team Pastrnak has had a longer point streak against is the Penguins at 15 games in a row from 2014-15 to 2020-21. He is -350 for at least a point tonight.
Montreal Canadiens
Montreal looks to avoid a winless three-game homestand as it is 0-2 on it following a 4-3 loss to Anaheim on Sunday. The Canadiens stormed back from down 2-0 in the second to lead 3-2 on Nick Suzuki’s 23rd goal of the season at 13:06 the period. But the Ducks tied it at 15:39 of the second and scored the winner at 17:30 of the third. Cole Caufield had a goal and is one shy of 40. He tries to become the fastest Canadiens player to get there in terms of games played in a season since Stephane Richer took 63 games in 1989-90. Centre Kirby Dach left in the first period with an upper-body injury. If he can’t play Tuesday, Zachary Bolduc likely draws back into the lineup. With Jacob Fowler in net Sunday, it should be Jakub Dobes on Tuesday. He has been much better at home this season, going 12-5-0 with a 2.74 GAA and .891 SV. Montreal is 3-12 in its past 15 at home vs. Boston, but it sets up well tonight.
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