Montreal Canadiens vs. Dallas Stars Prediction, NHL Odds
The Canadiens closed out 2023 with a 4-3 loss in Tampa Bay on New Year’s Eve, and enter the final date of their current seven-game road trip riding a three-game losing streak. The Stars rolled to a dominating 8-1 victory over the visiting Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night, extending their current win streak on home ice to six games.
The Stars have vaulted to heavy -300 home favourites on the Tuesday NHL odds, while the Habs lag as a distant +240 bet. The total is listed at 6.5.
Canadiens vs. Stars NHL Betting Odds
Winners in seven of their previous 10 road contests, the Canadiens have steadily faded during their annual holiday season road trip. Goaltending has emerged as a big concern for the Habs during their current slide. The club has allowed 13 total goals during their current 0-3-0 run, with the trio of Samuel Montembeault, Jake Allen, and Cayden Primeau compiling a combined .833 save percentage on just 78 total shots over that stretch. Things get no easier against the Stars, to whom the Habs have dropped three straight decisions, capped by back-to-back losses by multi-goal margins.
The Stars dominated in a two-game home series against Chicago this weekend, outscoring the bottom feeding Blackhawks by a combined 13-5 margin. Overall, the Stars have potted 4.33 goals per game while winning seven of nine overall, but saw each of the seven contests prior to the Blackhawks’ visit get settled by just a single goal.
Montreal Canadiens
In addition to their struggles behind the pipes, the Habs have also seen goals come at a premium. Montreal shooters have scored just five total goals at even strength during their current three-game slide, and just 2.33 goals per game at even strength through the first six dates of this road trip. Cole Caufield has managed to remain productive on this junket. The 22-year-old has scored in each of the past two games, and recorded six points over the past seven games. Josh Anderson also entered the holiday season on a tear, scoring five times and adding an assist over a five-game stretch. Anderson has been held off the scoresheet in each of the past two games, and with just two points in nine career appearances against Dallas, he offers little value on the NHL player props beyond his +110 odds to record OVER 2.5 shots.
Dallas Stars
With Jake Oettinger on the shelf indefinitely with a lower body injury, Scott Wedgewood has taken over in the Stars crease, with mixed results. Wedgewood was solid while making a seventh straight start, stopping 23 of 24 shots in Sunday’s rout of the Blackhawks. However, he was lucky to escape with a winning decision while allowing four goals on 29 shots in Friday’s 5-4 overtime win, and has surrendered at least three goals in six of his seven home starts this season. Wedgewood enjoyed the benefit of a torrid Stars attack on Sunday. Mason Marchment led the way with a hat trick and an assist, snapping a four-game points drought. Tyler Seguin also ended a recent swoon with a goal and two helpers, while Jason Robertson recorded a pair of assists for the third time in three games and has compiled nine points during a six-game points streak.