Montreal Canadiens vs. Vegas Golden Knights Prediction, NHL Odds
The Golden Knights still hold first place in the Pacific Division and have won back-to-back games. Vegas will be a heavy -299 favourite to win on the NHL odds with the total sitting at the usual 6.5. Puck drop from the T-Mobile arena is set for 6 PM EST.
Canadiens vs. Golden Knights NHL Betting Odds
Reilly Smith scored twice for Vegas, as they handed Montreal a 6-4 beating in their first meeting this season back in November. The victory made it three straight for the Golden Knights over the Canadiens after sweeping their season series last year. Each of those three Vegas wins has been high-scoring games, playing the over every time.
The Canadiens’ offence has been stale so far on this road trip, scoring just seven goals combined in their past three games. They played the Under in each of those games, putting their record on the total to 26-32-4 on the year, which oddly matches their win-loss record as well.
The Golden Knights played the Under three games in a row before their Friday night matchup with the Devils went to a shootout and resulted in a push. In the span of their past four games, they are averaging just two goals per game, posting a 2-2 record in that set.
Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens are coming off of back-to-back 3-2 losses in Los Angeles and most recently Anaheim after opening their road trip with a win.
Jonathan Drouin opened the scoring versus the Ducks with his first goal of the season just over a minute into the game. Anaheim answered right away to tie the game and would add two powerplay goals in the third period to go up 3-1. With the Habs net empty, Nick Suzuki (21) would find the back of the net to cut the lead in half, but that was as close as the comeback would get.
Samuel Montembeault made 30 saves losing his second start in a row and Jake Allen will likely be back in goal for Montreal on Sunday.
Newly acquired defenceman Frederic Allard has been recalled from the AHL on an emergency basis, which means one of the teams’ defencemen is likely injured. Rookie Kaiden Guhle had just returned from injury but looked to reaggravated the injury versus Anaheim. Habs fans are worried it is him who will be out of the lineup again.
Vegas Golden Knights
Golden Knights netminder Adin Hill put the team on his back Friday night versus the New Jersey Devils, stopping a career-high 47 shots and all four of the Devils’ attempts in the shootout. The effort lead to a 4-3 shootout win for Vegas’ second victory in a row. Jonathan Marchessault did the heavy lifting offensively scoring twice on five shots and adding an assist, while Jack Eichel lead all forwards playing 23:03 and putting up two points (1G 1A). Eichel has scored six goals and eight points over the past six games.
Forward William Carrier left the game in the first period with a lower-body injury and will be out indefinitely. He joins Mark Stone, Nolan Patrick and Nicolas Roy on the IR as well as goalies Robin Lehner, Logan Thompson and Laurent Brossoit.
With all the injuries in goal, the Golden Knights picked up Stanley Cup champion Jonathan Quick at the deadline on Friday. He could make his debut Sunday versus Montreal.
