Winnipeg Jets vs. Montreal Canadiens Game 4 Prediction, Playoff Odds
The total is set at 5.5 goals.
Jets vs. Canadiens Stanley Cup Odds
It’s quite unusual for teams to play back-to-back nights in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but the North Division’s post-season got a later start than the other divisions because of regular-season COVID issues so that’s why the Jets and Canadiens are right back at it Monday following Sunday’s 5-1 Habs victory to go up 3-0 in the series.
Montreal also had a back-to-back in the first round vs. Toronto and lost both at home to fall down 3-1 in that series only to rally back. The Jets also had one in Round 1 vs. Edmonton and won both at home to complete the sweep. Monday should be the final B2B of this post-season. The Colorado/Vegas series winner awaits in the next round. That could easily go seven games (it will go at least six) so the Canadiens could get a ton of rest if they can finish things in Game 4.
As of this writing, it’s not clear if either team will turn to its backup goalie — Laurent Brossoit for the Jets and Jake Allen for the Canadiens. Both most likely would play if this were a regular-season back-to-back but neither team used the backup that Round 1 scenario.
Winnipeg Jets
The Jets are +900 on the series line to complete the incredibly unlikely comeback. Only four teams have come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series in NHL history. Winnipeg has just four goals scored in the series following Sunday’s 5-1 loss. Down 1-0, shots from Nikolaj Ehlers and Blake Wheeler hit the crossbar in the second period. The lone goal game from Adam Lowry, his second of these playoffs.
Centre Paul Stastny missed the first two games of the series with an injury but was back in the lineup. He was minus-2 without a shot on goal in 16:25 of ice time. Connor Hellebuyck stopped 28 of 32 shots and has allowed four goals in two of the three games. I could see Laurent Brossoit get a shot here. Winnipeg is 5-2 in its past seven in the second of a back-to-back.
Montreal Canadiens
Montreal is now -3279 on the series line and hasn’t trailed since losing Game 4 to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round. The Canadiens lead a playoff series 3-0 for the first time since 2015, when they beat Ottawa in the opening round. Montreal has an all-time record of 33-0 when leading 3-0 in a best-of-7 series and has recorded an NHL-record 22 sweeps in that scenario.
Joel Armia was the No. 1 star Sunday with two goals (four in the playoffs) and an assist – both goals were short-handed. The Habs have four short-handed goals this post-season and have allowed only three on the power play. Corey Perry (third of playoffs), Artturi Lehkonen (first) and Nick Suzuki (fourth; on power play) also scored. Carey Price made 26 saves and leads all playoff netminders with a .938 save per centage. Montreal is 1-5 in its past six in the second of a back-to-back.
WIN
MON