Sharks vs. Canadiens NHL Betting Odds, Picks: Rested Montreal sizeable home favourites on Tuesday
The Montreal Canadiens have won three of their past four games and look to stay hot as they host the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night.
Although overtime games are exciting, the Habs could use a boring win and end a game in regulation, as they have done it just once this season.
San Jose is playing the second half of a back-to-back after taking a 3-1 loss in Toronto on Monday. The Sharks have now lost four of their past five, as they hold onto fourth place in the Pacific Division.
The NHL odds have the Canadiens as -210 favourites at home, with the OVER/UNDER set at an 6.5 goals. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. EST at Bell Centre in Montreal.
Sharks vs. Canadiens NHL Betting Odds
The Sharks beat the Habs by two goals in both of their meetings last season, 7-5 and 4-2. San Jose covered the spread in both contests, hitting the OVER once. Macklin Celebrini tore Montreal apart in the two-game set, putting up seven points (3G, 4A). Montreal’s Jakub Dobes was in net for both of those losses last season; if he starts on Tuesday, he will need a bounce back.
San Jose has hit the OVER four times in their nine contests so far; their offence has been slow to kick off the season, averaging 2.44 goals per game and scoring three or fewer in each of their past seven games. They are 5-4 against the spread to this point in the year.
Montreal’s past three games have all hit the OVER, bringing their record in the OVER/UNDER column to 6-2. Sitting with the fifth most goals against per game at 3.75 is a troubling sign early in the season. They covered the spread in their most recent game for just the second time this season, bringing them to 2-6 ATS.
San Jose Sharks
San Jose dropped their second straight game on Monday night, 3-1 in Toronto. They are in the midst of a six-game road trip, in which they have posted a 1-1-1 record. After a 4-3 shootout loss in Detroit on Saturday, they managed just a single goal versus the Maple Leafs on Monday. Mason Marchment (third) opened the scoring in the first period, before the Leafs added two power play goals and an empty-netter for the 3-1 final.
Yaroslav Askarov got the start for the Sharks, stopping 29 of 31 in the loss. The 24-year-old is off to a tough start this season, going 2-4 with a 3.67 goals-against average and a rough .865 save percentage. Expect Alex Nedeljkovic to get the start in Montreal on Tuesday.
Celebrini was held off the scoresheet for just the second time this season on Monday. The 20-year-old sensation has 11 points through seven games.
Montreal Canadiens
Cole Caufield got the Habs back in the win column, potting his second of the game to seal a 4-3 overtime win on Saturday night over the Buffalo Sabres. After giving up the first goal of the game, the Canadiens came back with three unanswered goals to take a 3-1 lead in the second period. Buffalo scored two more to tie the game and send it to overtime, before Mr. Saturday Night did what he does best and sniped the game-winner.
Zack Bolduc continued his hot start with his fourth goal of the season, and Alex Texier also scored his first of the season in the win.
Young goaltender Jacob Fowler has taken over as the Canadiens’ number one option in net, stopping 23 of 26 to get his third straight win. He has a 3-1 record this season, with a 2.16 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage.
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