Two clubs that are facing each other for the third and final time this season, the Montreal Canadiens and the Columbus Blue Jackets meet at Nationwide Arena for an Eastern Conference matchup. The action will get underway at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, March 12, and it’ll air live on Reseau Des Sports.
Montreal Canadiens at Columbus Blue Jackets Odds
Columbus comes into the contest as the heavy favorite with a -210 moneyline. The line for Montreal sits at +175, and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-120 for the under, +100 for the over).
Columbus is 36-33 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. That winning percentage, the third-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 team’s 69 regular season contests, 37 have gone under the total, while 31 have gone over and just one has pushed. The team is 22-13 SU at home this season.
The Blue Jackets have converted on just 14.4 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s ranked 31st overall in the NHL. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 25th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 77.3 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, the Blue Jackets have been called for penalties just 3.0 times per game overall this season, 3.2 per game over their past five contests total, and 2.8 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays for just 7.0 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, in total.
With a .920 save percentage and 28.0 saves per game, Sergei Bobrovsky (29-26-5) has been the best option in goal for Columbus this year. If Columbus decides to give him a breather, however, the team may turn to Joonas Korpisalo (7-8-8 record, .902 save percentage, 3.19 goals against average).
Artemi Panarin and Seth Jones will both be focal points for the Blue Jackets. Panarin (60 points) has produced 21 goals and 39 assists and has recorded two or more points 12 times this year. Jones has 13 goals and 33 assists to his name and has notched at least one point in 33 games.
On the other bench, Montreal is 25-43 straight up (SU) and has lost 21.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 68 regular season matches, 38 of its games have gone under the total, while 28 have gone over and just two have pushed. The Canadiens are 9-25 SU as the visiting team this season.
The Canadiens have converted on 20.1 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 28th overall and it’s successfully killed off 76.3 percent of all penalties.
Montreal’s skaters have been penalized 3.8 times per game in total this season, and 4.6 per game over their last five road outings. The team’s been forced to kill penalties 10.2 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
Carey Price (2.98 goals against average and .904 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Montreal. Price is averaging 27.3 saves per game and owns a 15-28-6 record.
Brendan Gallagher (24 goals, 17 assists) and Alex Galchenyuk (16 goals, 24 assists) have been standout playmakers for Montreal and will lead the offensive counter for the visiting Canadiens.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Blue Jackets, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Three of Montreal’s last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 0-3 in those games and 2-6 overall in shootouts this season.
- The total has gone over in three of Columbus’ last five games.
- Two teams that fire the puck on goal a lot, Montreal has registered the league’s eighth-most shots on goal (33.5) while Columbus’s attempted the fourth-most (34.3).
- Columbus has averaged 2.7 goals per game overall this year, but has raised it up to 4.0 per match up over its four-game win streak.
- A majority (60.0 percent) of Montreal’s wins have come by two or more goals and the team is 15-28 overall in such games. 16 of Columbus’ wins (44.4 percent) have been decided by two or more goals.
- Montreal skaters have dished out the league’s fourth-most hits per game (25.5).
