The Nashville Predators have intentions of remaining in the hunt behind the first-place Winnipeg Jets in the Central Division, but in order to do so they’ll need to tighten things up in their own barn. The Predators, who’ve dropped three straight at Bridgestone Arena, host the Montreal Canadiens tonight. Sportsbooks opened the Canadiens as +145 road underdogs with a total of 5.5.
- The total has gone UNDER in the Canadiens’ last five games on the road (avg. combined score: 5.0).
- The Canadiens are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games on the road.
- The Predators are 2-5 SU and 1-6 ATS in their last seven games as home favorites.
Canadiens vs Predators Game Center
Habs are on fire right now
After losing both ends of a home-and-home to St. Louis over the weekend, Nashville fell to the lowly Detroit Red Wings 3-2 on Tuesday. Top-line center Ryan Johansen is doing his part, however, as the veteran has collected a pair of assists in back-to-back contests to give him eight points during a five-game streak. In the last meeting between the teams on January 5, backup goaltender Juuse Saros made 27 saves in Nashville’s 4-1 triumph.
The Habs continue to raise eyebrows across the league and are 8-1-2 SU in their past 11 entering the opener of a three-game road trip. Shea Weber, who was acquired by the Canadiens in a blockbuster trade for P.K. Subban in June 2016, will play in his 900th game in the city where he played 11 seasons. Newly acquired depth forwards Dale Weise and Nate Thompson will suit up for the Habs in this one.
Predators, Canadiens love going UNDER
According to betting trends, the UNDER might be worth a look in this one. The UNDER has paid out in Montreal’s past five road games with an average combined score of five goals, while the UNDER is 7-2 in Nashville’s last nine overall with an average combined score of 5.3 goals. The Canadiens and Predators are no stranger to participating in low-scoring affairs, going UNDER in each of the past six meetings between the squads.
Montreal has turned into an excellent puckline wager away from home. The Canadiens are 9-1 on the puckline in their past 10 road games entering tonight’s matchup. Sportsbook was dealing the Habs’ +1.5 puckline for a price of -180 as of this writing.
My pick: take the UNDER
These teams’ penchant for going UNDER totals can’t be overlooked, and they’re primed for yet another low-scoring affair in this one. Nashville and Montreal haven’t exactly been lighting up scoreboards lately but they have been doing a good job keeping the puck out of their respective nets, which is a great recipe for an UNDER.
