After giving up 14 goals over the last two games, the Montreal Canadiens will look to right the ship when they travel to Pittsburgh to face the Penguins on Saturday night.
It’s been a tough start to the season for the Montreal Canadiens, who are 4-6 following a 6-3 loss in Washington on Thursday. It’s been equally disappointing for the 4-7 Pittsburgh Penguins, although they are coming off a 2-1 overtime win against Anaheim.
Pittsburgh opened as a -182 favourite to win on the NHL odds, with the total set at 6.5.
Canadiens vs. Penguins NHL Betting Odds
The Penguins swept the four-game season series last year. The teams split the Over/Under evenly, with the first two games needing extra time to solve.
Neither team has been a good cover option early in the year. The Habs are 5-6 against the spread, while the Pens have covered in just four of 12 games.
Look to poor defence and poor goaltending as the two main causes for why both teams have played high scoring games. Montreal has hit the Over eight times this year, including in six straight games, while Pittsburgh has hit the Over in six of their last nine.
Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens are going through a terrible two-game stretch that has seen them lose 8-2 to Seattle and 6-3 to Washington. Defensively, Montreal is averaging 4.18 goals-against per game, tied with Colorado for dead last in the NHL. They have the leagues third-worst team save percentage (.877) and they’ve given up the third-most shots (359).
One upside has been the play of Cole Caufield, who is tied for the NHL lead with 10 goals. Nick Suzuki has also had a solid year, putting up a team-high 13 points (4G, 9A). There’s been no word on a starting goalie for Saturday, but neither option gives a lot of confidence. Samuel Montembeault is 3-4-0 with a 3.67 goals-against average and .891 SV, while Cayden Primeau is 1-2-1 with a 4.38 GAA and .861 SV.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Sidney Crosby continued to turn back the clock with both of Pittsburgh’s goals in their win over Anaheim on Thursday. Crosby has notched 12 points (3G, 9A) in 12 games, second on the Pens behind Evgeni Malkin‘s 14 points (3G, 11A). Pittsburgh improved to a ridiculous 85-12-5 when Crosby scores at least twice.
The Penguins have had some really shaky goaltending this season and they sit 30th in goals-against per game (4.00). That’s in large part due to the struggles of Tristan Jarry, who was sent to the AHL last week in hopes of him finding some confidence. Over three starts with the Pens, Jarry has an abysmal 5.47 GAA and .836 SV. Joel Blomqvist has started the majority of games for Pittsburgh this season, going 2-4-0 with a 3.46 GAA and .909 SV.
NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Canadiens vs. Penguins?
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 1 Nov 6:04pm | - | - | O +6.5 -120 |
| Closing 3 Nov 1:13am | - | - | O +4.5 -250 |
- Regular Season
Canadiens Team Leaders
| Points |
29 |
| + / - |
2 |
| Shots |
77 |
| Penalty Mins |
43 |
| Wins |
9 |
| GAA |
2.83 |
| Points |
27 |
| + / - |
3 |
| Shots |
89 |
| Penalty Mins |
21 |
| Wins |
5 |
| GAA |
3.37 |
- Regular Season
Penguins Team Leaders
| Points |
29 |
| + / - |
2 |
| Shots |
77 |
| Penalty Mins |
43 |
| Wins |
9 |
| GAA |
2.83 |
| Points |
27 |
| + / - |
3 |
| Shots |
89 |
| Penalty Mins |
21 |
| Wins |
5 |
| GAA |
3.37 |
Injuries
Kaiden Guhle (D)
Mike Matheson (D)
David Savard (D)
Juraj Slafkovsky (LW)
Josh Anderson (RW)
Justin Barron (D)
Juraj Slafkovsky (LW)
Kaiden Guhle (D)
Mike Matheson (D)
Jayden Struble (D)
Philip Tomasino (C)
Owen Pickering (D)
Owen Pickering (D)
Kris Letang (D)
Blake Lizotte (C)
Matt Nieto (LW)
Cody Glass (C)
Kevin Hayes (RW)
Bryan Rust (RW)
Cody Glass (C)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaiden Guhle (D) | Ques Sat | Illness - 05 / 12 / 24 | 2-1 | 0-2-1 | + - |
|
Guhle sat out the game due to illness, and it is unclear if he will play against the Capitals on Saturday. |
|||||
| Mike Matheson (D) | Ques Sat | Lower Body - 26 / 11 / 24 | 5-3 | 4-3-1 | + - |
|
Matheson missed the last game managing a lower body injury, and it is up in the air if he will dress against the Rangers on Saturday. |
|||||
| David Savard (D) | Out Sun | Upper Body - 17 / 11 / 24 | 7-3 | 4-5-1 | + - |
|
Savard is battling with a upper body injury, and he is not expected to play against Columbus on Sunday. |
|||||
| Juraj Slafkovsky (LW) | Ques Tues | Head - 03 / 11 / 24 | 9-7 | 6-9-1 | + - |
|
Slafkovsky left the game due to head injury, and it is unknown if he will play against the Flames on Tuesday. |
|||||
| Josh Anderson (RW) | Ques Sun | Lower Body - 27 / 10 / 24 | 11-9 | 10-9-1 | + - |
|
Anderson is battling a lower-body injury, and it is undetermined if he will take the court against the Flyers on Sunday. |
|||||
| Justin Barron (D) | Que Thur | Upper Body - 23 / 10 / 24 | 11-10 | 11-9-1 | + - |
|
Barron exited the contest after receiving a high hit, and it is unclear if he will play against the Capitals on Thursday. |
|||||
| Juraj Slafkovsky (LW) | Late Oct | Shoulder - 21 / 10 / 24 | 12-10 | 12-9-1 | + - |
|
Slafkovsky is nursing a shoulder injury, and he is expected to remain out of lineup until the end of October. |
|||||
| Kaiden Guhle (D) | Out indefinitely | Upper Body - 18 / 10 / 24 | 12-11 | 12-10-1 | + - |
|
Guhle is dealing with an upper body injury, and he will miss an extended period. |
|||||
| Mike Matheson (D) | Ques Sat | Upper Body - 17 / 10 / 24 | 12-12 | 13-10-1 | + - |
|
Matheson exited the matchup with an upper body injury, and it is up in the air if he will take the court for Saturday's contest versus the Islanders. |
|||||
| Jayden Struble (D) | Ques Sat | Upper Body - 08 / 10 / 24 | - | - | + - |
|
Struble is managing an upper body injury, and it is unclear if he will face the Islanders on Saturday. |
|||||
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philip Tomasino (C) | Ques Tues | Upper Body - 07 / 12 / 24 | 2-1 | 2-1 | + - |
|
Tomasino is batting with an upper body injury, and it has yet to be established if he will face Avalanche on Tuesday. |
|||||
| Owen Pickering (D) | Ques Tues | Illness - 01 / 12 / 24 | 3-1 | 3-1 | + - |
|
Pickering is ailing from an illness, and it is unclear if he will suit up against the Panthers on Tuesday. |
|||||
| Owen Pickering (D) | Ques Sat | Illness - 27 / 11 / 24 | 5-2 | 5-2 | + - |
|
Pickering missed the previous game due to an illness, and it remains to be seen if he will be back on the ice on Saturday against the Flames. |
|||||
| Kris Letang (D) | Ques Fri | Illness - 15 / 11 / 24 | 6-6 | 7-5 | + - |
|
Letang is ailing from an illness, and it is unclear if he will face the Jets on Friday. |
|||||
| Blake Lizotte (C) | Out indefinitely | Face - 14 / 11 / 24 | 6-7 | 8-5 | + - |
|
Lizotte has been put on the injured reserve list due to a concussion, and he will miss an extended period. |
|||||
| Matt Nieto (LW) | Out indefinitely | Knee - 10 / 11 / 24 | 7-7 | 8-6 | + - |
|
Nieto has landed on the injured reserve list with a knee injury, and it is unknown when he will return to action. |
|||||
| Cody Glass (C) | Out indefinitely | Concussion - 08 / 11 / 24 | 7-8 | 8-7 | + - |
|
Glass has been placed on the injured reserve list with a concussion, and he is expected to miss at least next three to four games. |
|||||
| Kevin Hayes (RW) | Out indefinitely | Upper Body - 06 / 11 / 24 | 9-8 | 9-8 | + - |
|
Hayes has been placed on injured reserve with an upper body injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time. |
|||||
| Bryan Rust (RW) | Out indefinitely | Lower Body - 27 / 10 / 24 | 10-11 | 11-10 | + - |
|
Rust has been placed on the injured reserve list due to lower body injury, and he will miss an extended period. |
|||||
| Cody Glass (C) | Ques Tues | Illness - 26 / 10 / 24 | 11-11 | 12-10 | + - |
|
Glass missed the last game dealing with an illness, and it is unclear if he will play against the Wild on Tuesday. |
|||||
-
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 1 Nov 6:04pm - - O +6.5 -120 Closing 3 Nov 1:13am - - O +4.5 -250 -
- Regular Season
Canadiens Team Leaders
Points 29
+ / - 2
Shots 77
Penalty Mins 43
Wins 9
GAA 2.83
Points 27
+ / - 3
Shots 89
Penalty Mins 21
Wins 5
GAA 3.37
-
- Regular Season
Penguins Team Leaders
Points 29
+ / - 2
Shots 77
Penalty Mins 43
Wins 9
GAA 2.83
Points 27
+ / - 3
Shots 89
Penalty Mins 21
Wins 5
GAA 3.37
-
Injuries
Kaiden Guhle (D)
Ques Sat Illness - 05 / 12 / 24Mike Matheson (D)
Ques Sat Lower Body - 26 / 11 / 24David Savard (D)
Out Sun Upper Body - 17 / 11 / 24Juraj Slafkovsky (LW)
Ques Tues Head - 03 / 11 / 24Josh Anderson (RW)
Ques Sun Lower Body - 27 / 10 / 24Justin Barron (D)
Que Thur Upper Body - 23 / 10 / 24Juraj Slafkovsky (LW)
Late Oct Shoulder - 21 / 10 / 24Kaiden Guhle (D)
Out indefinitely Upper Body - 18 / 10 / 24Mike Matheson (D)
Ques Sat Upper Body - 17 / 10 / 24Jayden Struble (D)
Ques Sat Upper Body - 08 / 10 / 24Philip Tomasino (C)
Ques Tues Upper Body - 07 / 12 / 24Owen Pickering (D)
Ques Tues Illness - 01 / 12 / 24Owen Pickering (D)
Ques Sat Illness - 27 / 11 / 24Kris Letang (D)
Ques Fri Illness - 15 / 11 / 24Blake Lizotte (C)
Out indefinitely Face - 14 / 11 / 24Matt Nieto (LW)
Out indefinitely Knee - 10 / 11 / 24Cody Glass (C)
Out indefinitely Concussion - 08 / 11 / 24Kevin Hayes (RW)
Out indefinitely Upper Body - 06 / 11 / 24Bryan Rust (RW)
Out indefinitely Lower Body - 27 / 10 / 24Cody Glass (C)
Ques Tues Illness - 26 / 10 / 24Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Kaiden Guhle (D) Ques Sat Illness - 05 / 12 / 24 2-1 0-2-1 + - Guhle sat out the game due to illness, and it is unclear if he will play against the Capitals on Saturday.
Mike Matheson (D) Ques Sat Lower Body - 26 / 11 / 24 5-3 4-3-1 + - Matheson missed the last game managing a lower body injury, and it is up in the air if he will dress against the Rangers on Saturday.
David Savard (D) Out Sun Upper Body - 17 / 11 / 24 7-3 4-5-1 + - Savard is battling with a upper body injury, and he is not expected to play against Columbus on Sunday.
Juraj Slafkovsky (LW) Ques Tues Head - 03 / 11 / 24 9-7 6-9-1 + - Slafkovsky left the game due to head injury, and it is unknown if he will play against the Flames on Tuesday.
Josh Anderson (RW) Ques Sun Lower Body - 27 / 10 / 24 11-9 10-9-1 + - Anderson is battling a lower-body injury, and it is undetermined if he will take the court against the Flyers on Sunday.
Justin Barron (D) Que Thur Upper Body - 23 / 10 / 24 11-10 11-9-1 + - Barron exited the contest after receiving a high hit, and it is unclear if he will play against the Capitals on Thursday.
Juraj Slafkovsky (LW) Late Oct Shoulder - 21 / 10 / 24 12-10 12-9-1 + - Slafkovsky is nursing a shoulder injury, and he is expected to remain out of lineup until the end of October.
Kaiden Guhle (D) Out indefinitely Upper Body - 18 / 10 / 24 12-11 12-10-1 + - Guhle is dealing with an upper body injury, and he will miss an extended period.
Mike Matheson (D) Ques Sat Upper Body - 17 / 10 / 24 12-12 13-10-1 + - Matheson exited the matchup with an upper body injury, and it is up in the air if he will take the court for Saturday's contest versus the Islanders.
Jayden Struble (D) Ques Sat Upper Body - 08 / 10 / 24 - - + - Struble is managing an upper body injury, and it is unclear if he will face the Islanders on Saturday.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Philip Tomasino (C) Ques Tues Upper Body - 07 / 12 / 24 2-1 2-1 + - Tomasino is batting with an upper body injury, and it has yet to be established if he will face Avalanche on Tuesday.
Owen Pickering (D) Ques Tues Illness - 01 / 12 / 24 3-1 3-1 + - Pickering is ailing from an illness, and it is unclear if he will suit up against the Panthers on Tuesday.
Owen Pickering (D) Ques Sat Illness - 27 / 11 / 24 5-2 5-2 + - Pickering missed the previous game due to an illness, and it remains to be seen if he will be back on the ice on Saturday against the Flames.
Kris Letang (D) Ques Fri Illness - 15 / 11 / 24 6-6 7-5 + - Letang is ailing from an illness, and it is unclear if he will face the Jets on Friday.
Blake Lizotte (C) Out indefinitely Face - 14 / 11 / 24 6-7 8-5 + - Lizotte has been put on the injured reserve list due to a concussion, and he will miss an extended period.
Matt Nieto (LW) Out indefinitely Knee - 10 / 11 / 24 7-7 8-6 + - Nieto has landed on the injured reserve list with a knee injury, and it is unknown when he will return to action.
Cody Glass (C) Out indefinitely Concussion - 08 / 11 / 24 7-8 8-7 + - Glass has been placed on the injured reserve list with a concussion, and he is expected to miss at least next three to four games.
Kevin Hayes (RW) Out indefinitely Upper Body - 06 / 11 / 24 9-8 9-8 + - Hayes has been placed on injured reserve with an upper body injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
Bryan Rust (RW) Out indefinitely Lower Body - 27 / 10 / 24 10-11 11-10 + - Rust has been placed on the injured reserve list due to lower body injury, and he will miss an extended period.
Cody Glass (C) Ques Tues Illness - 26 / 10 / 24 11-11 12-10 + - Glass missed the last game dealing with an illness, and it is unclear if he will play against the Wild on Tuesday.