Minnesota Wild vs. Montreal Canadiens Prediction, NHL Odds
The Minnesota Wild have clinched a post-season spot and are visiting Montreal for the only time this season for a date with the last-place Canadiens. Minnesota’s at 101 points on the season but have now fell to third place with St. Louis on a nine-game win streak and now in second. The Wild are likely to face St. Louis in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but who will get home ice is still up for grabs.
Montreal’s on a five-game losing streak, sitting in the basement of the Eastern Conference and in the 31st place of their 32-team league. Puck drop at Bell Centre goes at 7 p.m. EDT, with Minnesota a -275 moneyline favourite on the road and the total at 6.5 on the NHL odds.
Wild vs. Canadiens NHL Betting Odds
Minnesota has owned Montreal over the last couple of years with wins in 11 of their last 12 meetings. In the last 10 Minnesota–Montreal games, the Wild have averaged 4.4 goals per game to the Habs’ 1.7. In their only other meeting this season, Minnesota defeated the Habs 8-2 in a game where Montreal generated just 21 shots.
The over has hit in six of the last nine Wild–Canadiens games, and in 10 of Minnesota’s last 15 road games. The Wild sit fifth in the NHL with 3.68 goals per game, while Montreal is allowing a league-worst 3.86 goals per outing.
Minnesota Wild
Minnesota’s last three games have gone to overtime, and most recently on Sunday it ended with the Wild going home happy. Minnesota defeated San Jose via a Jared Spurgeon overtime winner. Frederick Gaudreau and Kevin Fiala each assisted on Spurgeon’s winner, and both Gaudreau and Fiala had three assists in the 5-4 win.
Minnesota’s scored at least three goals in their last six games but also gave up 10 on the weekend with goalies Cam Talbot and Marc-Andre Fleury both getting starts. Fleury is 6-1 with a .921 save percentage since coming over via trade, as he and Talbot remain alternating starts.
Montreal Canadiens
Carey Price is making his second start of the season versus Minnesota after allowing two goals in his debut Friday. Montreal’s felt Price’s absence this season and Saturday versus Washington was yet another example as the Habs allowed eight goals in an 8-4 loss. Sam Montembeault was in net for all eight goals and has an .891 save percentage in 36 games this year. Ryan Poehling had two goals in the loss, and Nick Suzuki buried his team-leading 20th goal and 57th point this season
Montreal will also be without forward Michael Pezzetta Tuesday who was suspended two games for an illegal check to the head Saturday.
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