Canadiens vs. Senators: NHL Odds, Prediction

Goal-scoring was a significant concern for the Montreal Canadiens over the first 10 game of the season. Now that the Canadiens have found an offensive spark, they’ll look to figure out what ails their defence and goaltending as they host the rival Ottawa Senators on Monday night. Montreal has won two of three games following Saturday’s 5-4 triumph over the New York Rangers, but star netminder Carey Price has been positively dreadful so far.

Canadiens vs. Senators

Moneyline: Senators -120

Date: Monday, October 30, 7:30 p.m. ET

Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, Ont.

NHL Odds and Betting Analysis

Ottawa comes in as a modest favorite thanks largely to home-ice advantage; the Senators are enjoying a strange glass-half-full kind of season so far, with just five wins in 11 games but only one regulation loss over that span. Ottawa has already gone to overtime or a shootout six times the season, but has just one win in those contests. Most recently, the Senators dropped a 5-4 shootout decision to the New Jersey Devils on Friday.

The home team has prevailed in five of the last seven meetings between the teams, but Ottawa hasn’t had much success at the Canadian Tire Centre of late, dropping five of its last seven home games. That said, Montreal has been outscored by an alarming 24-6 margin in five road games since beating the Sabres 3-2 in Buffalo in their season opener. From a totals perspective, the teams have played to the under in five of the last seven meetings in Ottawa.

Montreal Canadiens

What’s wrong with Price? That’s what everyone is wondering these days, with the 2014-15 Hart and Vezina Trophy winner stumbling to a 3.64 goals-against average and .883 save percentage to open the season. Perhaps a date with rival Ottawa will invigorate Price, who went 3-1-0 with a 2.22 GAA in four meetings with the Senators last season. Montreal has played 16 unders and five pushes in its last 26 games coming off a victory.

Ottawa Senators

One of the keys to the Senators’ success has been a stout penalty kill that has allowed just three power-play goals against. Continued success in that area is expected against a Montreal man-advantage unit that has produced only six goals through the first 11 games. Ottawa has rebounded nicely following poor defensive efforts, winning 13 of its last 19 games after giving up five or more goals in its previous outing.

Canadiens vs. Senators Prediction

Senators 4, Canadiens 2