Montreal Canadiens vs. Arizona Coyotes Prediction, NHL Odds
The Coyotes are priced as -130 favourites on the NHL odds.
Canadiens vs. Coyotes NHL Betting Odds
Thursday is the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams with Arizona visiting Montreal on Feb. 27. Last year, the Habs won both – including 3-2 in overtime in Tempe. Kirby Dach (2A), Josh Anderson (1G, 1A) and Cole Caufield (2G) led Montreal with two points each in the series. Sam Montembeault and Jake Allen each allowed two goals in their win. Lawson Crouse (3A) led Arizona with three points, while Karel Vejmelka and Connor Ingram both got a turn in net.
The Coyotes don’t have a permanent home right now so they played last year and this at Mullett Arena on the campus of Arizona State University. The 5,000-seat capacity makes it the smallest venue in the NHL by far.
Arizona’s plan to build a new arena in Tempe as part of a $2.1 billion entertainment district was rejected by voters back in May. The future of the team is very much up in the air and it’s quite possible it could relocate as soon as next year to Houston, Salt Lake City, Kansas City or Quebec City. Arizona has played very, very well in its temporary home and it seems likely at least one more year at ASU will happen while the franchise figures out its next move.
Montreal is 10-4 in the past 14 as the road team in the series.
Montreal Canadiens
Montreal played a third straight game to go past regulation Monday and is 2-1 in them following a 3-2 shootout loss at defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas. That’s a very well-earned point. Sean Monahan (fifth of season) and Nick Suzuki (second) had the goals, with Monahan’s short-handed. He the fifth player this season with multiple shorthanded goals, joining Logan O’Connor (3), Sean Walker (2), Travis Konecny (2) and Jaccob Slavin (2). Suzuki and Monahan extended their point streaks to three games each. Blueliner Mike Matheson was in question but played and had three shots on goal, two blocked shots, one hit and two penalty minutes over 22:01 of ice time. Winger Tanner Pearson is expected to play in his 600th career game tonight. And it likely will be Jake Allen in net for his 400th career start. He’s 3-0-1 with a 2.63 GAA and .930 SV this year. The Habs are 6-2 in their past eight against Central Division foes.
Arizona Coyotes
Arizona lost for the third time in four games Wednesday, 4-3 in overtime at Anaheim. The Ducks led 2-0 early but two goals by Logan Crouse (first two of season) and one by Logan Cooley (first career goal) gave the Coyotes a 3-2 lead entering the third, but they couldn’t hold it. Troy Terry won it at 3:27 of OT to complete the hat trick. Arizona is now 2-3-1 in one-goal games. Karel Vejmelka started in net Wednesday, so it will be Connor Ingram on Thursday. He’s 2-1-0 with a 2.51 GAA and .914 SV. Clayton Keller (4G, 4A) and Nick Schmaltz (2G, 6A) lead the team with eight points each. Blueliner Sean Durzi is tops on the club at plus-8. Arizona is 16-35 in its past 51 in the second of a back-to-back.
