PPG Paints Arena is the site for an intriguing showdown as the Montreal Canadiens take on the Pittsburgh Penguins. It’s the third and last time that these two clubs will go at it in the regular season. This Eastern Conference matchup gets going at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, February 14, and it will be showcased live on AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh.
Montreal Canadiens at Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
Pittsburgh (-200) is being tabbed as the favorite over Montreal (+170), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals. The odds for betting the total sit at -110 for the over and -110 on the under.
The Penguins are 34-21 straight-up (SU) and have earned moneyline bettors 8.3 units this year. That win percentage, ranked third in the NHL so far in the early season, is an improvement compared to what the team did during last year’s regular season (44-38). 28 of the team’s 55 outings have gone under the total, while 26 have gone over and just one has pushed. This year, the team’s 19-9 SU at home.
Pittsburgh’s converted on 19.9 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 10th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.8 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, Pittsburgh has been penalized just 3.3 times per game overall this season, and 4.0 per game over its last ten matchups. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays for just 8.3 minutes per game over its last 10 matchups, in total.
Averaging 25.5 saves per game with a .902 save percentage, Matt Murray (17-13-5) has been the principal option in goal for the Penguins this season. If they, however, choose to give him the night off, Pittsburgh may go with Tristan Jarry (18-9-9 record, .929 save percentage, 2.18 goals against average).
Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust will both be focal points for the Penguins. Malkin (58 points) has tallied 18 goals and 40 assists and has recorded multiple points on 17 different occasions this year. Rust has 22 goals and 23 assists to his name and has notched at least one point in 28 games.
Montreal has lost 12.4 units for moneyline bettors this year and is currently 27-32 straight up (SU). Through 59 regular season outings, 31 of its games have gone under the total, while 25 have gone over and just three have pushed. As the road team this season, Montreal is 14-13 SU.
Montreal has converted on just 18.5 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that places it in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 19th overall and it’s successfully defended 79.3 percent of all penalties.
Montreal’s players have been penalized 3.4 times per game this season, and 5.4 per game over their last five on the road. The team has had to kill penalties 8.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Carey Price (27.9 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Montreal. Price has 24 wins, 24 losses, and four overtime losses to his credit, while registering a .913 save percentage and 2.71 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Canadiens, the offense will be heavily coordinated by Tomas Tatar, who has 32 assists and 20 goals this year.
Montreal Canadiens at Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- Two of Montreal’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 2-0 in those games and 4-1 overall in shootouts this season.
- The under has hit in four of Montreal’s last five games.
- Two clubs that have pounded opposing goalies with shots, Montreal has registered the league’s second-most shots on goal (34.4) while Pittsburgh has attempted the ninth-most (32.0).
- Over Pittsburgh’s last ten outings, four of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-3 in those games).
- This game features two of the tougher teams in the league. Montreal skaters have accounted for the fifth-most hits in the league (27.1 per game) and the Penguins have registered the third-most (28.3).
