The number of long winning streaks we’re seeing in the NHL this year is unprecedented and many of them are completely unexpected. Don’t get me wrong, Minnesota is a good club but at the start of the year I had the Wild pegged to just barely make the playoffs. They have now won eight straight on the backs of Devan Dubnyk and a tight defensive philosophy and will try to make it nine in a row tonight when they visit the Montreal Canadiens in a building in which the Habs are 15-2-2 this season.
- The Canadiens are 8-2 on the puckline in their last 10 games.
- The Wild are 4-0 in their last 4 games against teams in the Atlantic Division.
- The Canadiens are 9-21 in their last 30 games against the Western Conference.
It’s going to be a battle between the two front-runners in the Vezina Trophy conversation tonight as Dubnyk (16-6-3, 1.55 GAA, .948 save percentage) goes head-to-head with Carey Price (18-4-2, 1.87 GAA, .936 save percentage). Price and the Canadiens are getting the benefit of the doubt from sportsbooks, but the Wild’s league-leading defense might have something to say about that.
During their eight-game win streak, the Wild have not given up more than two goals in a game and have only scored fewer than three once. Dubnyk posted his NHL-best fifth shutout his last time out and should definitely give Minnesota a chance to win against a Habs team that has struggled to score against good goalies.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
Sportsbooks such as Sportsbook had the Montreal Canadiens as -136 moneyline favorites in this particular NHL betting matchup earlier. The over under total, meanwhile, was set early at 5 before betting started to move the line at Sportsbook.
Odds Shark computer prediction formulas pick a 3-2.1 win for the Wild on Thursday. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NHL matchups here.
Minnesota Wild vs Montreal Canadiens Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The Montreal Canadiens currently sport a record of 21-7-4. The Minnesota Wild are 19-8-4. Betting totals have seen the Canadiens post a 12-13-7 OVER/UNDER record this season, while the Wild have gone 9-16-6 against the number. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Montreal vs Minnesota injuries news.
The NHL Power Rankings at Odds Shark show the No. 11-rated Minnesota Wild taking on the No. 5-rated Montreal Canadiens in this contest.
Statistical Matchup
Offensively, the game matches up the Montreal Canadiens No. 4-ranked offense (3.16 goals per game) against a Minnesota Wild defense that ranks No. 1 at 1.94 goals per game allowed. The Canadiens Sportsbook has clicked at a 20% rate while the Wild have a 84.95% rate on the penalty kill.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
In their last action, Minnesota was a 2-0 Sportsbook at home against the Avalanche. Bettors on Minnesota at -225 on the moneyline collected their winnings from that game, while the total score (2) sent UNDER bettors home happy as well.
The Canadiens were a 5-1 Sportsbook in their most recent outing at home against the Ducks. That made Sportsbooks of bettors who got Montreal at -170 on the moneyline, while the total score (6) was good news for OVER bettors.
- Minnesota is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
- Minnesota is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
- Minnesota is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
- Minnesota is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Montreal
- Montreal is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games
- Montreal is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Montreal's last 6 games
- Montreal is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games at home
Next Betting Matchups
Minnesota at New York, Friday, December 23rd
Montreal at Columbus, Friday, December 23rd
