NHL Odds and Props: Sidney Crosby vs. Montreal Canadiens

From Stanley Cups and gold medals to Art Ross and Hart trophies, Sidney Crosby has won almost everything you can win as a hockey player. At 37-years-old, he’s still one of the best players in the game, but there’s one team that seems to bring out the best in him, the Montreal Canadiens.

Crosby grew up a fan of Montreal, the team that selected his father Troy, a goalie, in the 12th and final round of the 1984 NHL draft. Although Troy never played a game in the NHL, Crosby loved the Habs growing up. And in case you didn’t realize, Montreal decided to go with the other goalie they drafted in 1984 in the third round, Patrick Roy, and things seem to have worked out.

With the Pittsburgh Penguins returning to the Bell Centre on Thursday, we’re looking back at Crosby’s career versus his boyhood team.

We’ll also take a look at the betting odds for Thursday, so don’t forget to check out our complete list of NHL game odds, NHL futures and NHL specials and props.

Rookie season heroics

Crosby faced the Canadiens four times in his rookie season and dominated from the start. In the first meeting in Pittsburgh, Crosby opened the scoring with his sixth career goal and the Penguins went on to win 3-2 in a shootout.

Crosby saved his biggest heroics for his second game against Montreal, and first at the Bell Centre. He finished with two goals in regulation before scoring the only goal in the shootout.

Pittsburgh went on to win three of four games against the Canadiens that season, with Crosby notching a point in every game and finishing with six in the series (3G, 3A).

Bell Centre beating

Crosby seems to thrive playing in Montreal. In addition to the well-known shootout winner he scored in his first-ever game at the Bell Centre, Crosby has racked up 24 points (9G, 15A) in 23 regular season road games against the Habs and four points (1G, 3A) in five playoff road games.

Crosby’s Canadiens’ career

Crosby has 66 points (25G, 41A) with a plus-5 rating in 51 career regular season games against Montreal. He’s also added another eight points (3G, 5A) in 11 playoff games, but the Habs got the best of Crosby and the Pens both times they met in the playoffs.

Pittsburgh lost to Montreal in a seven-game second round playoff series in 2010 and the Canadiens also came out on top in a five-game qualifying series in the 2020 playoff bubble.

Crosby and the Pens have already faced Montreal twice this season, winning both games. Although the Cole Harbour native was held off the score sheet when the teams met at the Bell Centre on October 14, he scored two goals in a 3-1 home win on November 2.

With Pittsburgh coming off a tough home loss on Tuesday, there will be no shortage of motivation for Crosby to have another big game against his boyhood team on Thursday.