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The Montreal Canadiens have gone through something of a role reversal this year in that they have had to rely on an emphasis on defense and goaltending to survive and contend for an Eastern Conference playoff spot. A groin injury to G Carey Price right after the Olympic Games was a setback and the Canadiens lack of offense has been a drag on their long term prospects for the playoffs as well as their ability to maintain betting values with the NHL odds. Ultimately it will come down to D PK Subban and Price carrying the load. A trade deadline deal for LW Thomas Vanek electrified hopes for more goal scoring but the jury was still out as to if that would actually come to fruition.
Dim Lamp
The Canadiens were ranked 23rd in the NHL for goal scoring which was a problem for their long term NHL betting prospects as the top two teams in the Eastern Conference, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins, were also among the top goal scoring teams in the NHL. Montreal’s lack of a consistent goal scoring attack has put extra pressure on their defense and goaltending that ranked a respectable 10th for goals against. This combination has meant that the Habs have gone over the total in just 22 out of their last 66 games.
Coming UP
The Montreal Canadiens are at the Florida Panthers on Saturday, March 29 followed by a game at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, April 1. The road trip ends on Friday, April 4 at the Ottawa Senators. After 1 more road game at the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday, April 9 the regular season ends at home with a visit from the New York Islanders on Thursday, April 10 and then the New York Rangers on Saturday April 12.
Handicapper’s Notebook
The Montreal Canadiens have lost 6 out of their last 10 away games with just 3 out of their last 8 away games going over the total. The Canadiens have also struggled to hold board value at home with a mark of 5 losses in their last 9 home games as they have gone over the total in just 2 out of their last 10 games at home.
