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Edgar Chaput
Nashville Predators vs. Montreal Canadiens Prediction, NHL Odds
Nashville was in Ottawa on Monday, then headed a bit further south and westward to play Toronto on Wednesday, and travel back the opposite way for their date with the Habs. The latter is looking to take any points they can on a home stand that hasn’t proven very beneficial.
Odds makers have established Nashville as -1.5 favourites on said NHL odds (+164 on the puck line) and the over-under at 6.5.
Predators vs. Canadiens NHL Betting Odds
The hosts have been successful at defending home ice in recent meetings, with four of the past five claimed by the squad playing in front of its fans. That has favoured Nashville more so than Montreal, as the former holds a 4-1 advantage over that span. Martin St. Louis and John Hynes’ units are familiar with each other. They played on Jan. 3, a contest the Predators sunk their teeth into, winning 6-3.
2022-2023 hasn’t been terribly beneficial for betters who have followed Nashville against the puck line. The team is only 20-19, which isn’t much worse than their 19-14-6 win-loss efforts. At the time of writing, the Preds are on the outside looking in when it comes to the postseason positioning.
If le Tricolore have provided a sprinkling of joy to anyone, it would have to betters who put their confidence in Montreal ATS. Not that 19-22 is worthy of envy but considering how nightmarish the campaign is going, it really doesn’t look too bad in comparison. The formula has been straightforward recently. When they win, they cover. When they lose, they don’t cover. The opposite result has only happened once in 12 games (an overtime defeat to Colorado on Dec. 23)
Nashville Predators
Wednesday’s contest in Toronto was a brilliant display of goaltending by both sides. Nashville’s fate was determined in the game’s final minutes, but netminder Juuse Saros is the last Predator to be blamed for the loss. He kept his side in the game all evening with confident saves, frequently challenging Leafs players by pushing slightly forward to cover his angles. With 33 saves on 35 shots in a 2-1 defeat, he can hang his head high. Filip Forsberg was the lone goal scorer for Nashville.
It could have been a different story were it not for a key moment early in the contest. As the visitors pressed in Toronto’s end, Tanner Jeannot received a slick pass from the point while Toronto goalie Matt Murray was sprawling. Jeannot’s deflection was smart, but Murray’s save was better.
Montreal Canadiens
Montreal has had a few days to erase Monday’s game against the Kraken from memory. Whatever momentum the side carried from the breathtaking 5-4 victory over the Blues on Saturday evaporated before the siren rang to end the first period.
The first period was the story of the game. Seattle dominated the opening 20 minutes, creating innumerable scoring opportunities, finally cashing in on a slick bit of passing that allowed Eeli Tolvanen to net his 5th of the year. Daniel Sprong sent a wicked one-timer on the powerplay to make it 2-0, and a deflected shot from the point allowed Vince Dunn to make it 3-0. Sam Montembeault was kept busy, as the shots favoured the Kraken 17-2 when the third goal was scored. The air went out of the building, as did Montreal’s hopes. Make the final 4-0.
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