The Columbus Blue Jackets and Montreal Canadiens meet Thursday in NHL action at the Bell Centre. Here’s a Canadiens vs. Blue Jackets Prediction. This article will include a Canadiens vs. Blue Jackets Pick.
Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Preview
The Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Flyers, lost to the Islanders and play the Sharks next. The Blue Jackets have won 5 of their last 6 games.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are averaging 3.17 goals per game and are scoring on 20.1 percent of their power play opportunities. Kirill Marchenko leads Columbus with 25 goals, Zach Werenski has 56 assists and Adam Fantilli has 187 shots on goal. Defensively, the Columbus Blue Jackets are allowing 3.04 goals per game and are killing 77.9 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Jet Greaves has allowed 117 goals on 1,297 shots faced, and Elvis Merzlikins has given up 87 goals on 755 shots.
Montreal Canadiens Betting Preview
The Montreal Canadiens beat the Islanders and Hurricanes and play the Predators next. The Canadiens have won 6 of their last 9 games.
The Montreal Canadiens are averaging 3.53 goals per game and are scoring on 25 percent of their power play opportunities. Cole Caufield leads Montreal with 44 goals, Nick Suzuki has 62 assists and Juraj Slafkovsky has 152 shots on goal. Defensively, the Montreal Canadiens are allowing 3.21 goals per game and are killing 76.3 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Jakub Dobes has given up 98 goals on 942 shots faced, and Sam Montembeault has allowed 81 goals on 635 shots.
Why the Montreal Canadiens will win
- The Blue Jackets have lost seven of their last eight night games at Bell Centre.
- The Canadiens have won each of their last five home games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The home team has covered the puck line in each of the Blue Jackets’ last seven games.
- The Blue Jackets have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last four road games.
- The Canadiens have won the second period in each of their last eight games when trailing after the first period.
Why the Columbus Blue Jackets will win
- The Canadiens have lost each of their last four games as favorites following a home win.
- The Blue Jackets have won four of their last five games as underdogs against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Canadiens have failed to cover the puck line in 11 of their last 12 games as favorites following a home win.
- The underdogs have covered the puck line in 21 of the Canadiens’ last 24 games.
- The Canadiens have lost the third period in each of their last six home games against Eastern Conference opponents when trailing after the second period.
Total Goals Facts
- Seven of the Blue Jackets’ last eight road games against opponents on a winning streak have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- Each of the Canadiens’ last four games against Metropolitan Division opponents has gone OVER the total goals line.
- Eight of the last nine Thursday night games between teams from the same conference have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in 16 of the Canadiens’ last 18 home games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Blue Jackets’ last four games as underdogs against opponents on a winning streak.
Montreal Canadiens Player Prop Facts
- Cole Caufield has scored at least one goal in eight of the Canadiens’ last nine games as home favorites.
- Nick Suzuki has recorded at least one assist in each of the Canadiens’ last five games.
- Cole Caufield ranks 2nd in the league for Goals (44) this season.
Columbus Blue Jackets Player Prop Facts
- Kirill Marchenko has scored a goal in each of the Blue Jackets’ last four games as road underdogs against Eastern Conference opponents.
- Zach Werenski has recorded at least one assist in nine of his last 10 appearances with the Blue Jackets as underdogs against Atlantic Division opponents.
- Mason Marchment has recorded two blocks against the Canadiens this season—equal to the most against any opponent.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Montreal Canadiens rank 3rd in the league for goals per game this season (3.53).
- The Montreal Canadiens rank T3rd in the league in power play percentage this season (25.00%).
- The Columbus Blue Jackets rank T3rd in the league in short-handed goals allowed this season (3).
- The Columbus Blue Jackets are one of only four teams to lose 18+ games when tied or leading after Period 2 this season.
Canadiens vs Blue Jackets Prediction
The Habs are getting the nod because they’re at home and they’ve won 7 of the last 10 meetings against the Blue Jackets. However, the Blue Jackets are playing too well to turn down the more favorable price and they’ve put themselves in a nice position to snag a playoff spot. As good as the Canadiens have been at home, they’ve had games recently where the defense gets sloppy. Not ideal with how the Blue Jackets are playing right now. I’m going to side with the road team and the better price. Give me the Blue Jackets.