NHL
Sports Interaction Staff
October 26, 2017

Kings vs. Canadiens: NHL Odds, Prediction

All is right in La Belle Province – at least for a couple of days. The Montreal Canadiens look to build on their best offensive showing of the season as they host the Los Angeles Kings in a Thursday night encounter at the Bell Centre. Montreal entered Tuesday’s game with Florida having scored just 13 goals in its first eight games, but put five pucks past Panthers netminder James Reimer en route to just their second victory of the season.

Kings vs. Canadiens

Moneyline: Canadiens -125

Date: Thursday, October 26, 7:30 p.m. ET

Bell Centre, Montreal, Que.

NHL Odds and Betting Analysis

Win No. 2 was a long time coming for the Habs, who had dropped seven in a row since prevailing in their season opener. They’re a slight favourite in this one, primarily due to the home-ice edge and a date with a Kings team playing its fourth road game in a six-day span. But the Canadiens have dropped their last four games against Western Conference opponents, including a 5-1 decision to these very same Kings in Los Angeles back on Oct. 18.

Sports Interaction bettors aren’t buying Montreal’s newfound offensive surge, selecting the Kings on the NHL odds board with an 85 percent majority. They aren’t as unanimous on the game total of 5.5, with 60 percent leaning toward the under. The Kings have played to the over just three times in the last 26 instances where they’re playing for the third time in four nights, while Montreal has played in five straight overs with an average of nearly seven goals scored in those games.

Los Angeles Kings

The Kings are sizzling, having won seven of their first nine games – and for once, it isn’t all about the defence and goaltending. Los Angeles ranks fourth in the NHL in goals per game (3.4), with three players – Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown and rookie Adrian Kempe – having already tallied at least five goals. That said, the Kings are also the class of the league defensively, allowing the second-fewest goals per game while boasting the No. 2-ranked penalty kill.

Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin came out Wednesday and said his team lacked confidence. But what it really lacks is reliable scoring, with just two players – Brendan Gallagher and Shea Weber – boasting more than two goals so far. The Canadiens sit dead last in third-period goals this season with three, while the Kings rank second with 15 third-period markers – so consider taking the Kings at +168 on the third-period three-way bet.