Ottawa Senators vs. Montreal Canadiens Prediction, NHL Odds
It’s a battle of first versus last, as the Ottawa Senators head to the Bell Centre on Thursday for the first of a two game set with the Montreal Canadiens.
This game is about as lopsided as you can get in hockey. The Canadiens are -340 favourites to win on the NHL odds with a total of 6.5 goals.
Senators vs. Canadiens Betting Analysis
Montreal took three of four games against the Senators last season, but the series was closer than it appears, as three games were decided in overtime. Sports Interaction bettors heavily favour the Habs with 87 per cent of bettors backing Montreal and 74 per cent taking the Over.
The Bell Centre has been tough on Ottawa over the last couple of years. The Sens have dropped six of their last seven games in Montreal and eight straight road games overall, dating back to last season. Ottawa has gone 2-8 against the spread this season and they haven’t covered in any of their six road games. The Sens have split the season Over/Under equally, both at home and on the road.
The Habs are the highest scoring team in the NHL, so it’s not surprising to see they have hit the Over in five of their last seven games. Bettors are cashing in on Montreal this season, as they are 8-2 ATS and have covered in three of four home games.
Ottawa Senators
Before the season began, Ottawa was almost universally predicted to finish last in the North Division, yet they somehow have managed to play even further below those expectations. It’s been an absolute nightmare for the Sens, who have dropped nine straight games after an opening night win. Ottawa gives up twice as many goals as they score, averaging 2.40 goals scored per game (28th in the NHL) and 4.40 goals against (31st). The Sens have been outscored 32-16 at five-on-five and Artyom Zub (who has two points in two games) is the only point-per-game player on the roster.
Ottawa’s latest defeat came on Tuesday at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers, a team that knows a thing or two about being the worst team in the league. Rookie Tim Stutzle scored his third goal of the season, but the Sens dropped the game 4-2 and were outscored 12-7 in the two game set with Edmonton. Stutzle is producing as well as you can hope on a team like Ottawa, as no one on the roster has more than three goals, this season. Brady Tkachuk leads the team with seven points (3G, 4A) in 10 games.
Montreal Canadiens
Tyler Toffoli and the Canadiens are coming off another beatdown of Vancouver, this time a 5-3 decision at the Bell Centre on Tuesday. Toffoli and Josh Anderson each had two goals, putting Toffoli in a tie with Jeff Petry for the team lead in points with 13. It’s his former Canucks team that is helping Toffoli to his hot start, as 11 of his 13 points and eight of his nine goals have come against Vancouver. Along with Toffoli’s league-leading nine goals, the Habs have five other players with at least three goals on the year and Montreal leads the league in scoring, averaging 4.4 goals per game (league average is 3.03).
Carey Price should get the start on Thursday, after Jake Allen made 36 saves in Tuesday’s win. Montreal been splitting the workload fairly evenly between the two goalies, with Price winning four of his six starts and Allen win three of his four. Price has a 2.77 goals against average and .903 save percentage, but it’s actually Allen who has the better numbers with a 2.02 GAA and .930 SV. Through the first 10 games Allen is on pace to make 22 starts in the 56 game season, which should provide Price substantially more rest than he’s ever had in his career.
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