Detroit Red Wings vs. Montreal Canadiens Prediction, NHL Odds
The battle for first place in the Atlantic Division heats up on Saturday night when the Montreal Canadiens host the Detroit Red Wings in NHL betting action at Bell Centre. The Canadiens have pulled even with Detroit atop the divisional standings with 56 points after tallying victories in their past three games, capped by Thursday’s 6-2 rout of the visiting Florida Panthers that also extended their home win streak to four games. The Red Wings arrive in Montreal on a two-game surge after topping Vancouver 5-1 on Thursday night but have surrendered four goals per game while losing two of three on the road.
The Canadiens get set to hit the ice as -140 favourites on the NHL odds. The Red Wings trail as +115 underdogs, and the total is pegged at 6.
Red Wings vs. Canadiens NHL Betting Odds
The Canadiens rolled to an impressive 5-1 win in Detroit during the first week of the season and have now topped the Red Wings in four of five meetings including a pair of home dates in which they claimed victory by a 9-2 combined margin. Indeed, the Red Wings have mustered a single goal in there of their past four clashes with the Habs, with each of those contests getting settled by multi-goal margins.
Detroit’s low scoring has failed to benefit totals bettors with the OVER/UNDER going 1-1-3 in their past five. The Canadiens have found a scoring groove during their recent surge, averaging 4.25 goals per game in their past eight games overall and at least four goals in four of five home dates. The Red Wings have also filled the net of late, scoring 10 total goals during their current 2-0-0 run after averaging just 2.20 goals per game in their previous five contests and have averaged 3.36 goals scored during a 6-2-3 run on the road.
Detroit Red Wings
A pair of wily veterans have led the attack during the Red Wings two-game win streak. James van Riemsdyk has been a steady producer since just before Christmas, tallying four goals and nine points in eight games, including multi-point performances in each of the club’s two recent wins. The 36-year-old has been particularly productive on the road, scoring seven times and adding two helpers over his past nine away appearances, including goals in each of his past three, and is worth a value bet as a +400 wager on the anytime goal scorer odds. Patrick Kane snapped a two-game pointless streak with a pair of goals, including his 500th career tally, in Thursday’s win over Vancouver. He has averaged a point per game over his past 11 road outings.
Montreal Canadiens
Acquired off the scrap heap in a deal with St. Louis in late November, Alexandre Texier has looked increasingly comfortable as a member of the bleu, blanc, et rouge. While the Frenchman struggled through a scoring drought in late December, he has displayed newfound confidence in January, scoring four times and adding four assists in five games, capped by an impressive three-goal performance in Thursday’s win over the Panthers. Oliver Kapanen has also stepped up, easing concerns about the club’s depth up the middle while averaging a point per game over his past 10 outings, capped by a three-point performance versus Florida, and is worth backing as a +105 wager to record at least one point on
Saturday.
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