Bell Centre will be hosting an intriguing showdown as the Montreal Canadiens square off against the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets. It’s the third and last time that these two clubs will go at it in the regular season. This Eastern Conference matchup will get going at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 2 and it’s being shown live on Fox Sports Ohio.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Montreal Canadiens Odds
Columbus is 27-25 straight up (SU) and has netted 6.1 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 52 regular season matches, 32 of its games have gone under the total, while 18 have gone over and just one has pushed. This 2019-20 Blue Jackets team is 11-14 SU on the road.
Columbus has converted on just 17.4 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that places them in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, it has the ninth-strongest penalty kill in the league, and it has successfully killed off 81.9 percent of its penalties.
Columbus, as a collective unit, has been sent to the penalty box just 3.1 times per game in the 2019-20 season, and 1.8 per game over its last five on the road. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays just 5.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Sporting a .913 save percentage and 25.7 saves per game, Joonas Korpisalo (17-15-5) has been the best option in goal for Columbus this season. If it chooses to give him a rest, however, the team may go with Elvis Merzlikins (9-12-5), who has a .926 save percentage and 2.39 goals against average this year.
The visiting Blue Jackets will be led by Pierre-Luc Dubois and Gustav Nyquist. Dubois (39 points) has tallied 15 goals and 24 assists, and has recorded two or more points eight times. Nyquist has 11 goals and 22 assists to his name (and has registered at least one point in 24 games).
Montreal is 24-29 straight up (SU) and has lost 12.7 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 26 of its games have gone under the total, while 23 have gone over and just three have pushed. The team’s 11-17 SU at home this season.
Montreal has converted on 20.4 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 18th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 79.2 percent of all penalties.
The Canadiens have been penalized only 3.3 times per game this season, and 4.0 per game over their past five outings. The team has had to kill penalties just 8.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Carey Price (27.7 saves per game) has been the top choice in goal for Montreal. Price has 22 wins, 21 losses, and four OT losses and has maintained a .911 save percentage and 2.74 goals against average this season.
Tomas Tatar (19 goals, 28 assists) will pace the offensive counter for the Canadiens.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Montreal Canadiens Betting Predictions
Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Canadiens, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- The under has hit in four of Columbus’ last five outings.
- Columbus has managed 26.8 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Montreal is averaging 34.0 shots per game over its last five at home.
- The Canadiens are 7-10 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 18-21 in games where they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 total minutes.
- Montreal is 3-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Columbus is 0-2 in shootouts.
- Montreal has created 6.2 takeaways per game over its last five home games, a drop-off from its season average of 6.9 takeaways per game (ranked 19th in the league).
- Columbus is ranked 25th this season with 6.7 takeaways per game. That figure has trended higher lately, as the team has created 7.5 takeaways over its last 10 games and 7.6 takeaways over its last five.
