PPG Paints Arena is the site for an Eastern Conference matchup as the Pittsburgh Penguins welcome the visiting Montreal Canadiens. It’s the third and last time that the two clubs will meet in the regular season. The match will get started at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 31 and it can be seen live on Sportsnet 360.
Montreal Canadiens at Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
Pittsburgh (-290) is currently the favorite over Montreal (+245) and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals. The odds for betting that total stand at -115 money on the over and -105 on the under.
Pittsburgh is 44-34 straight up (SU) and has recorded -3.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. That winning percentage, the second-best in the Metropolitan Division in this young season, is a regression from the 50-32 record that the team posted during the 2016-17 season campaign. Of the teams 78 games this season, 45 have gone over the total, while 31 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team is 28-10 SU at home this year.
The Penguins come into the matchup with the second-best power-play unit in the NHL, as the team has converted on 25.7 percent of their extra-man advantages this season. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 19th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 79.8 percent of all penalties.
The Penguins, as a collective unit, have been penalized 4.0 times per game overall this season, 3.4 per game over their past five contests total, and 3.4 per game over their last five home outings. The teams had to defend opposition power plays for just 7.4 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, overall.
Averaging 26.3 saves per game with a .907 save percentage, Matt Murray (27-19-3) has been the top option in goal for the Pens this year. If the Pens, however, decide to rest him, Pittsburgh might go with Tristan Jarry (15-11-11 record, .908 save percentage, 2.77 goals against average).
The Pens will continue looking for leadership from Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby. Malkin (93 points) has produced 42 goals and 51 assists and has recorded multiple points on 25 different occasions this year. Crosby has 28 goals and 57 assists to his name and has recorded a point in 51 contests.
Montreal is 28-49 straight up (SU) and has lost 23.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 77 regular season outings, 41 of its games have gone under the total, while 34 have gone over and just two have pushed. As the visiting team, the Canadiens are 10-28 SU.
The Canadiens have converted on 21.0 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 31st overall and it’s successfully killed off 74.5 percent of all penalties.
Montreal’s players have been called for penalties 3.8 times per game this season, 3.8 per game over their past five match ups total, and 3.8 per game over their last five on the road. The team has had to kill penalties 8.8 minutes per contest over their last five road games.
Carey Price (27.3 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for Montreal. Price owns a 16-30-6 record, and has registered a .902 save percentage and 3.07 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Canadiens will be Brendan Gallagher (30 goals, 19 assists) and Alex Galchenyuk (18 goals, 30 assists).
Montreal Canadiens at Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Montreal is 2-6 in games decided by a shootout this season while Pittsburgh is 2-2 in shootouts.
- The total has gone over in each of Pittsburgh’s last five games.
- Two teams that put the puck on goal a lot, Montreal has attempted the leagues ninth-most shots on goal (32.9) and Pittsburgh has attempted the second-most (34.4).
- Over Montreal’s last ten games, nine of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 3-6 in those games).
- This game features two of the tougher defenses in the league. Montreal skaters have accounted for the leagues second-most hits per game (26.3) while the Pens have registered the eighth-most (23.7).
