Each team’s fourth game of the season, the Detroit Red Wings and the Montreal Canadiens collide at Bell Centre. This Original Six matchup will get underway at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 10, and it’ll be showcased live on Fox Sports Detroit.
Detroit Red Wings vs. Montreal Canadiens Odds
Detroit (+160) is entering this one as the underdog to Montreal (-180) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals. If bettors want to play this matchup’s total, they’ll be looking at odds of -105 money on the over and -115 on the under.
Detroit is 2-1 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 2.5 units this season. That SU winning percentage, ranked third in the Atlantic Division so far in this young season, represents a welcome improvement compared to how the team performed during the 2018-19 season (32-50).
Detroit has scored on 8.3 percent of its power play opportunities so far. That’s a noticeable drop-off from last season, when it was ranked 20th in the league by scoring on 18.1 percent of its extra-man advantages. Its penalty kill has gotten stronger year-over-year, however, as the team has gone from successfully defending 77.0 percent of all opponent power plays (ranked 28th overall last year) to 85.7 percent this year.
Detroit, as a collective unit, has been penalized just 2.3 times per game this season, a number that has improved drastically over last year’s 3.5 penalties per game. After serving an average of 7.9 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s been forced to kill penalties for only 4.7 minutes per matchup this year.
Averaging 32.5 saves per game with a .915 save percentage, Jimmy Howard (1-1) has been the top option in goal for Detroit this season. If it decides to give him a rest, however, Detroit might roll with Jonathan Bernier (1-0), who has a .864 save percentage and 3.00 goals against average this year.
Anthony Mantha and Dylan Larkin will both look to continue their strong seasons for the visiting Red Wings. Mantha has seven points on five goals and two assists this season; Larkin has one goal and four assists to his name through the early stages of the regular season.
On the other side of the ice, Montreal is 1-2 straight up (SU) and has netted 0.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. Two of its contests have gone over the total, while zero have gone under and none have pushed.
Montreal has scored on 33.3 percent of its power plays this year after converting on 13.3 percent (ranked 30th in league) last season. It has killed off a remarkable 69.2 percent of its penalties, a few points off from the 80.9 percent the team recorded a year ago (when it was ranked 11th in the NHL).
Montreal players have been called for penalties 4.3 times per game this season, a number that’s risen some from the 3.5 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 8.3 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s been forced to kill penalties for 8.7 minutes per contest this year.
Carey Price has stopped 36.0 shots per game as the top choice in the crease for Montreal. Price has one win, one loss, and one OT loss to his credit and has recorded a subpar .900 save percentage and 3.69 goals against average this season.
Jonathan Drouin (one goal, two assists) and Brendan Gallagher (one goals, two assists) will lead the offensive attack for the Canadiens.
Detroit Red Wings vs. Montreal Canadiens Betting Predictions
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Canadiens, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- After winning all three of its shootouts last year, Montreal is off to a 1-1 start in shootouts this season. Detroit was 3-5 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
- Montreal has yet to play in a game this season that was decided by two or more goals.
- Detroit skaters notched 21.3 hits per game last season, while the Canadiens posted 26.9 hits per contest.
