The Montreal Canadiens and Anaheim Ducks meet Sunday in NHL action at the Honda Center. The Montreal Canadiens need a win after losing seven of their last nine games. The Anaheim Ducks need a win to snap a six-game losing streak.
The Montreal Canadiens are averaging 1.89 goals per game and are scoring on 9.4 percent of their power play opportunities. Mathieu Perreault leads Montreal with three goals, Nick Suzuki has five assists and Brendan Gallagher has 21 shots on goal. Defensively, the Montreal Canadiens are allowing 3.33 goals per game and are killing 64.7 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Jake Allen has given up 23 goals on 246 shots faced, and Sam Montembeault has allowed five goals on 36 shots.
The Anaheim Ducks are averaging three goals per game and are scoring on 24 percent of their power play opportunities. Rickard Rakell leads Anaheim with four goals, Jakob Silfverberg has seven assists and Trevor Zegras has 26 shots on goal. Defensively, the Anaheim Ducks are allowing 3.56 goals per game and are killing 82.1 percent of their opponent’s power plays. John Gibson has given up 19 goals on 206 shots faced, and Anthony Stolarz has allowed 11 goals on 108 shots.
The Canadiens are 3-9 in their last 12 games playing on 0 days rest and 2-7 in their last 9 overall. The Ducks are 17-44 in their last 61 home games and 14-38 in their last 52 overall. The under is 6-2-2 in Canadiens last 10 overall. The over is 6-0 in Ducks last 6 overall. The Canadiens are 0-5 in the last 5 meetings in Anaheim.
I’m not running to the window to back either of these teams, but if forced to pick, we’re getting the rested Ducks at home for the plus money. The Montreal Canadiens have serious offensive issues this season, and they’re on the end of a back to back, which likely doesn’t help matters. The home team has also won 10 of the last 11 meetings between the Ducks and Habs. Give me the Ducks in the underdog role.