Montreal Canadiens vs. Nashville Predators Prediction, NHL Odds
The Canadiens have lost five games in a row now, entering the final game of the road trip and have not won a game in regulation since December 6th.
Nashville is 3-3-4 in their past 10 games and is slowly slipping out of playoff contention in the Western Conference.
The Predators are a heavy -223 favourite to win on the NHL odds with the total set at 6.
Canadiens vs. Predators NHL Betting Odds
Both games in last season’s two-game set between the Preds and Habs played Over the 5.5 total with each team taking a win to split the series. Christian Dvorak scored in both meetings and Sam Montembeault backed stopped the Canadiens in their win, while Nashville’s Matt Duchene recorded a hattrick and led the series in goals.
Riding a five-game losing streak, the Canadiens have been absolutely embarrassed in back-to-back games, losing by a combined score of 16-4. They have not covered the spread in any of their past four games and giving up so many goals has helped them hit the Over in back-to-back outings. What was once an exciting young offence has hit a super slump, scoring just 1.7 goals per game over their past 10.
Almost at the midway point of the season, the Predators are trying to keep themselves in reach of a wildcard spot, six points out of the final spot in the Western Conference. They have covered against the spread in six straight games, bringing their record up to 15-20 ATS on the season. They have been involved in high-scoring contests as of late, hitting the over in back-to-back games and in four of their past six games.
Montreal Canadiens
Montreal took their worst beating of the season Saturday night in Washington, losing 9-2 to the red-hot Capitals. Cole Caufield carried the bit of the offence for the Habs scoring his 20th and 21st of the season to snap a four-game goalless skid. Kirby Dach (5G 18A) and Nick Suzuki (15G 17A) were the only other Canadiens to pick up a point in the loss as the young trio continues to lead the team offensively.
Head Coach Martin St. Louis let Jake Allen stay in net the entire game, taking all nine goals against bumping his goals-against average down to 3.52. St. Louis has already confirmed that Sam Montembeault will get the start Tuesday in Nashville.
On the backend, the Canadiens were without rookie defenceman Kaiden Guhle due to a lower-body injury and there is no timetable for his return. On a brighter note though, veteran D-man David Savard practiced and is expected to return to the lineup for the first time since December 3rd.
Nashville Predators
The Predators got off to an early 2-0 lead Saturday night in Vegas before the Golden Knights would come storming back with four straight goals, taking a 4-2 just five minutes into the third period.
Filip Forsberg would then score back-to-back goals in the final 10 minutes of the game, completing his team-record eighth career hattrick, tying things up at four and sending the game to overtime.
Just over two minutes into overtime, the 32nd shot of the game would go past Preds goalie Kevin Lankinen and Nashville would take its third loss in four games, dropping them six points out of a playoff spot.
Nashville’s all-time goals leader, Forsberg has scored in three straight games and leads the team with 14 goals and 18 assists.
Number one netminder Juuse Saros was given a well-deserved night off on Saturday after starting seven straight games for the Preds. Expect to see the Finland native back in goal Tuesday versus Montreal.
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