An Original 6 matchup will get us started today with the Rangers taking on the Habs in Montreal at an arena that’s sure to be bumping. New York had more road wins than any other team in the league in the regular season but the Bell Centre is known as one of the toughest rinks to play in during the playoffs. Montreal opened as a pretty big favorite in Game 1 after dominating the Blueshirts in the regular season but make no mistake – this is an excellent matchup.
- The Canadiens are 3-0 SU in their last 3 games against the Rangers.
- The visiting team is 4-1 SU and 5-0 on the puckline in the last 5 games in this matchup.
- The Rangers were 27-14 SU on the road this season.
I’ve been vocal that I like the Canadiens to win this series but that prediction is predicated on the idea that they’ll succeed in the Big Apple. The Rangers lost eight consecutive games at Madison Square Garden down the stretch and that includes one to Montreal in which the Habs left New York with a 4-1 win. What I’m saying is that the Rangers’ moneyline value tonight is extremely hard to pass up.
This is going to be the story for a lot of these series as the first game of the playoffs always seems like a toss-up. If I’m being offered a +150 line in a game I see as a virtual toss-up, I’m going to hammer it. Every. Single. Time.
Additionally, the Rangers are 8-2 straight up in their last 10 games against the Canadiens in the postseason and I think some guys on the red side of things could be too caught up with avenging the infamous Chris Kreider-Carey Price incident of 2015 when the Rangers forward took Price out of the series and most of the following season.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
Betting fans looking to side with the Montreal Canadiens in this one found them earlier as -131 favorites on the NHL money line at Sportsbook. Betting the over under total instead? It was hovering near 5 at its open earlier today at Sportsbook and may have moved.
Odds Shark score prediction models pick a 3.5-1.5 result in favor of the Canadiens today. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NHL matchups here.
New York Rangers vs Montreal Canadiens Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The New York Rangers will look to vanquish their hosts on Wednesday, as they are 48-28-6 this season, while the Canadiens are 47-26-9. New York is 40-36-6 against the total, while Montreal is 29-38-15 versus the number. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Montreal vs New York injuries news.
The Rangers - Canadiens odds would favor the Rangers if the lines were set according to our power ranks. Montreal is rated No. 15 in the current Odds Shark poll, while New York is at No. 12.
Statistical Matchup
Offensively, the game matches up the Montreal Canadiens No. 16-ranked offense (2.76 goals per game) against a New York Rangers defense that ranks No. 13 at 2.68 goals per game allowed. The Canadiens Sportsbook has clicked at a 19.65% rate while the Rangers have a 79.91% rate on the penalty kill.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
The Rangers were a 3-2 Sportsbook in their most recent outing at home against the Penguins. That made Sportsbooks of bettors who got New York at -181 on the moneyline, while the total score (5) was good news for OVER bettors.
Last time out for Montreal, they were a 3-2 Sportsbook as they battled the Red Wings on the road. Moneyline bettors who got the Canadiens at +159 were rewarded, while the 5 combined goals moved the game UNDER for totals bettors.
- NY Rangers is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games
- NY Rangers is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games
- NY Rangers is 16-8 ATS in its last 24 games on the road
- NY Rangers is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
- Montreal is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Montreal's last 5 games
- Montreal is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing NY Rangers
- Montreal is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against NY Rangers
Next Betting Matchups
New York at Montreal, Friday, April 14th
