Odds courtesy of TonyBet.
Predators vs Canadiens Odds
The Predators sit at -105 on the moneyline at NHL betting sites. The Canadiens return at -122 odds. The O/U is set at 6.5 goals.
The Habs have won four straight against Nashville, previously beating them in October. The last three meetings have cashed the Under in goals.
Predators vs Canadiens Analysis
The Preds are having a respectable campaign. They’re currently fifth in the Central Division with a 34-29-9 record. If the season ended today, Nashville would make the playoffs as the final Wild Card team in the Western Conference. However, the fight for the two WC spots is fierce, which means the Predators cannot let up in the next few weeks. They sit on 77 points, but the Los Angeles Kings, Seattle Kraken, Winnipeg Jets, and San Jose Sharks are right on their heels.
While the loss to the Devils was disappointing, this group has been playing good hockey. They won five games prior, notching victories against several of those teams chasing them in the Wild Card race. Ryan O’Reilly, Filip Forsberg, and Steven Stamkos have all done their part this season as the core producers, while Luke Evangelista and Roman Josi have also contributed consistently.
The Habs are seen as a contender for many years to come due to their young, talented core. Montreal had a sniff of the playoffs last season, but it was brief, and this season, it appears they could truly make a deep run. Martin St. Louis’s group is in third place in the heavily competitive Atlantic Division with a 40-21-10 record, and they’ve gone 7-3-0 in their last 10 contests ahead of Saturday’s matchup.
During this current winning run, the Canadiens have beaten the New York Islanders, Carolina Hurricanes, and Blue Jackets, outscoring their opponents by 14-6. Cole Caufield has been on a heater, scoring seven goals in his last seven appearances. He’s second in the Maurice Rocket Richard Trophy race.
Five different players on this Habs roster have at least 54 points. Montreal is incredibly deep. Nick Suzuki, Caufield, Ivan Demidov, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Lane Hutson are all stars. There’s a reason the Canadiens are third in goals scored. But, their goaltending isn’t always as solid, allowing 3.18 goals per game. That ranks 24th in the league.
Predators vs Canadiens Picks
The Canadiens are red-hot, and they’re one of the rare teams who play better away from home. They’re 18-8-8 on the road. Take Montreal to notch another victory against Nashville as they begin a lengthy road trip.
Pick: Canadiens -122 /TonyBet
