Brendan Gallagher, Tomas Tatar, and the Montreal Canadiens will face off against Teuvo Teravainen, Andrei Svechnikov, and the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena in an Eastern Conference showdown. The action will get underway at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 31, and you can view the game live on The Sports Network.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Carolina Hurricanes Odds
The Hurricanes (-170) are being tabbed as the favorites over the Canadiens (+150) and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. The odds for betting that total sit at -120 money on the over and +100 on the under.
Carolina is 23-16 straight-up (SU) and has recorded -0.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage is right in line with what the team managed during the 2018-19 season (46-36). Out of the team’s 39 regular season outings, 20 of them have gone under the total, while 19 have gone over and none have pushed. The team is 11-6 SU at home this season.
The Hurricanes have connected on 23.4 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 11th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 81.8 percent of all penalties.
With a .900 save percentage and 24.1 saves per game, Petr Mrazek (15-10-2) has been the primary option in goal for Carolina this season. If head coach Rod Brind Amour decides to rest him, however, Carolina may turn to James Reimer (8-8-8 record, .914 save percentage, 2.69 goals against average).
Montreal has lost 7.6 units for moneyline bettors this year and is currently 18-21 straight up (SU). Through 39 regular season contests, 21 of its games have gone over the total, while 16 have gone under the total and just two have pushed. As an away team , the Canadiens are 10-10 SU.
The Canadiens have scored on 24.3 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s good enough for sixth-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 26th overall and it’s successfully defended 76.5 percent of all penalties.
Carey Price (27.0 saves per game) has been the primary choice in the net for Montreal. Price owns a 16-16-3 record, and has registered a .901 save percentage and 3.03 goals against average this year.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Carolina Hurricanes Betting Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Canadiens, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- The Hurricanes are 2-0 in games decided by a shootout this season while the Canadiens are 2-1 in shootouts.
- For both of these clubs, the total has gone over in three of their past five matches.
- This game features two teams that put the puck on net a lot. Montreal has taken the league’s most shots on goal (35.6) and Carolina has attempted the third-most (34.1).
- Over Carolina’s last ten outings, nine of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 6-3 in those games).
- Montreal skaters have given out the fourth-most hits in the league (27.4 per game), but the team’s recorded just 21.4 hits over their last five away games.
