Montreal Canadiens vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction, NHL Odds
The Montreal Canadiens hope to snap a three-game losing streak that has bounced them from the top of the Atlantic Division standings when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night in NHL betting action at Nationwide Arena.
The Canadiens suffered their fifth defeat in six games with Saturday’s 3-2 loss to the visiting Boston Bruins and have been outscored by a wide 15-3 combined margin while losing their past three.
The Blue Jackets saw a two-game tear end with Saturday’s 2-1 loss to the New York Rangers, which also put the brakes on a three-game win streak on home ice.
The Blue Jackets’ recent home success has helped lift them to -125 favourites on Monday’s NHL odds. The Canadiens closely trail as +105 underdogs, and the total for is pegged at 6.0.
Canadiens vs. Blue Jackets NHL Betting Odds
The Canadiens took two of three from the Blue Jackets last season but saw a seven-game head-to-head win streak end in their last matchup, a 5-4 loss in Columbus back on December 23. The past two dates between these clubs were each settled by a single goal, with the Habs posting multi-goal victories in five of their previous six clashes.
However, offensive production has come at a premium for Montreal since seeing a torrid 9-3-0 start to the season halted. Canadiens have potted just two total goals at even strength during their three-game slide and have failed to score a power play goal in 17 opportunities over the past five games, blowing seven chances with the extra man in Saturday’s loss to Boston, and saw a nine-game run for the OVER in totals betting snapped on Saturday.
Losers in four of five on a recent road trip, the Blue Jackets have split the first two games of this three-game homestand. However, this club also has work to do on offence after scoring two or fewer goals in four of their past seven outings. However, Columbus shooters have not been without chances, with the club ranking fourth overall in the NHL with 564 total shots on goal this season.
Montreal Canadiens
It proved to be another quiet night for Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov in Saturday’s narrow loss to the Bruins, with the duo failing to record a point while combining to record just one total shot on goal. Demidov has now failed to score and picked up just one assist over the past five games while recording just four shots on goal.
Slafkovsky has not done much better, tallying just two assists during a six-game goalless drought but has potted two goals and added a helper over his two most recent road appearances.
The loss of Alex Newhook has not helped matters. Newhook was enjoying a solid start to the came with 12 points and trailed only Cole Caufield with six goals before suffering an ankle injury last week that is expected to sideline him for four months.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Blue Jackets enter Monday’s action after earning at least in each of their past four games, and have seen nine of their past 11 games settled by a single goal, so even a marginal improvement in offensive production could produce big dividends for this club.
Columbus could also benefit from more consistent performances from goaltender Jet Reaves, who turned aside 31 of 32 shots in Saturday’s shootout loss to the Rangers, and has allowed two or fewer goals in three of six games this month, but has allowed 14 total games over his other three November outings.
Dmitri Voronkov tallied the Blue Jackets’ lone goal versus New York but has seen his production taper off this month after compiling five goals and five assists in 11 October contests. Voronkov has been limited to two goals and four points eight outing this month, and has been held off the scoresheet on six occasions over that stretch.
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