Los Angeles Kings vs. Montreal Canadiens Prediction, NHL Odds
NHL history for early-season road success would be made at the Bell Centre on Thursday night if the Los Angels Kings beat the Montreal Canadiens.
The Kings are -220 favourites to win on the NHL odds.
Kings vs. Canadiens NHL Betting Odds
What’s the longest road winning streak to open an NHL season? Glad you asked. That would be 10 victories in a row, first set by the 2006-07 Buffalo Sabres – who finished with 113 points and lost in the conference finals – and now tied by the 2023-24 Los Angeles Kings, so they would make history Thursday in Montreal with a victory.
This also concludes the season series between the teams as on Nov. 25, the Kings beat the visiting Habs 4-0. Pheonix Copley made 18 saves in his third career shutout to earn No. 1 star honours, Trevor Moore scored two goals, and Carl Grundstrom and Trevor Lewis also scored for Los Angeles. Montreal had just one shot on goal in the first period and finished with a scant 18 overall. That was the first time the Canadiens had been shut out this season, and they haven’t been since. Jake Allen was in net. Last season, the Habs lost 4-2 at home to LA with Copley and Allen also in net.
Los Angeles Kings
The Kings got that record-tying 10th straight season-opening road win on Tuesday in Columbus, 4-3 in overtime with star defenceman Drew Doughty scoring 33 seconds into OT. Los Angeles looked like toast down 3-0 entering the third but got two goals from Phillip Danault (six on the season) and one from Arthur Kaliyev (also six) to tie it before the seven-minute mark. It was the first three-goal, third-period comeback win for the franchise since Nov. 10, 2007, vs. Dallas. The Kings became the first team in NHL history to extend an overall, home or road winning streak of nine or more games with a three-goal, third-period comeback. Anze Kopitar and Trevor Moore both had an assist and extended their season-opening road point streak to 10 games, the longest by a Kings player since Rob Blake had the same streak in 1992-93. Forward Blake Lizotte (4G, 3A) missed a sixth straight game due to injury but is getting close. Pheonix Copley was in net Tuesday, so it should be Cam Talbot on Thursday. The Ontario native is 11-4-1 with a 1.96 GAA and .930 SV.
Montreal Canadiens
Montreal is 2-1 on this four-game homestand following a 4-2 win over Seattle on Monday to get back to .500. Sean Monahan scored twice and Josh Anderson broke a 27-game goal drought dating to last season with an empty-netter. Montreal still hasn’t had a player with a hat trick this season with the last by Joel Armia on April 6 vs. Washington. Forward Brendan Gallagher had an assist and became the 27th player and 26th skater in Canadiens history to appear in 700 games with the franchise. Former No. 1 overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky had one shot over 17:14 of ice time as he was moved to the top line with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. “If you don’t move your feet, it’s hard to use your size,” Coach Martin St. Louis said. “There’s anticipation and understanding where the game’s going, so I think he’s anticipating really well and he gets there on time so he can use his body.” Samuel Montembeault made 31 saves in his first start since signing a three-year, $9.45 (US) million contract extension and will start Thursday.
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