Montreal Canadiens vs Boston Bruins - Odds and Predictions

Where: TD Garden – Boston, MA.

When: Wednesday, February 12, 7:30 PM EST

How (TV/Radio): Sportsnet, RDS, NBC Sports | WFAN

Montreal Canadiens (Away)

Head Coach: Claude Julien{All-Time 654-433-10-146 MTL, BOS, NJD}

Currently sitting fifth in the Atlantic division, the Canadiens are coming off of a 3-2 loss to the Arizona Coyotes. However, the team has been playing quality hockey lately and are 7-3-0 across their last ten games.

Offense

The Montreal Canadiens have been playing some good hockey over the past two weeks and now find themselves just five points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for the final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division.

The Habs have increased their scoring and that is attributed to their volume of shots.

Montreal ranks first in the league for shots-per-game average. The Habs hit the net 34.4 times, on average, per game, and they lead the league with 1,910 shots on goal. The team has a collective 8.8 shooting percentage.

Yes – 8.8 percent. Just because you shoot a lot doesn’t mean they all go in. But it’s a big start. And, for the time being, Montreal sits just outside the top-ten in the league for goals scored with 168 combined – 135 of them at even-strength, which is the seventh-most in the NHL.

Special teams will be the biggest issue in this match. The Montreal power play ranks 15th in the league and has only produced 29 power-play goals. The Bruins have the third-best penalty-killing unit in the league this year.

Check out also: “NHL Trade Deadline: Forwards, Defensemen, and Goalies Expected to Move“.

Defense

Speaking of special teams, Montreal’s penalty killers will have their hands full as well. The Habs rank 21st in the league when it comes to killing penalties, with just a 78.92 percent. They have allowed 35 power-play goals against – the tenth-most in the league.

Luckily for the Canadiens, they don’t tend to take as many penalties as the Boston Bruins. Montreal ranks sixth in the league when it comes to fewest penalty minutes, averaging 7.4 minutes per game compared to Boston’s 9.1.

For as much as this team shoots, they also allow a lot of shots on themselves. Montreal has allowed the ninth-most shots against and the team’s goaltenders have a combined save percentage of .902 – ranking them at 18th.

Goaltending

It is expected that Montreal’s mainstay Carey Price will be in net for the Canadiens Wednesday night. Price has put together a season record of 24-19-4 with a goals-against-average of 2.70 and a .913 save percentage. He also has three shutouts on the year.

Boston Bruins (Home)

Head Coach: Bruce Cassidy{All-Time 198-110-9-41 BOS, WSH}

Boston and Montreal head into this game in a similar fashion. Like the Canadiens, the Bruins are also coming off of a loss (3-1 to the Red Wings!) and are also 7-3-0 in their last ten games. The Bruins currently sit first in the Atlantic division and first-overall in the league with 80 points.

Offense

The Boston Bruins rank first overall in the NHL and that is because they rank within the top ten of most major offensive statistics this season, starting with goals, in which they rank sixth and have scored 181 this season. That includes 38 by league-leading scorer David Pastrnak.

This team ranks tenth in shots this season and has a team shooting percentage of 10.6 – which is the NHL’s seventh-best at the time of writing.

The Bruins have battled the Oilers all season for the right to claim the best power play. Boston currently ranks second in the league with a 26.82 power-play percentage and 48 power-play goals (which is actually one more than Edmonton).

Defense

On the topic of special teams yet again, the Bruins boast the league’s third-best penalty-killing unit with 84.87 percent. They have allowed 25 power-play goals against. As impressive as that is, the Bruins shouldn’t be taking this many penalties and the Montreal Canadiens will definitely be looking to exploit this part of Boston’s game.

With that said though, Boston has allowed the fewest goals against this season, allowing just 130 goals this season. They also allow the ninth-fewest shots against, on average, per game this season.

So, obviously, there’s no denying this team’s goaltending. Although goalie Jaroslav Halak is listed as day-to-day, Halak and Rask have been unbelievable this season and lead the league with a combined save percentage of .922 and six shutouts.

Goaltending

One future hall of famer will be going up against another as goaltender Tuuka Rask is expected to get the start opposite Carey Price. Rask has incredible numbers this season, including a 20-5-6 record, 2.14 GAA, and .929 save percentage. Like his opposing netminder, Rask also has three shutouts this season.

Last Head-to-Head

These two teams last competed against each other earlier this season on December 1, 2019. It was the Bruins who secured the victory, defeating their long-standing rivals by a final score of 3-1.

What’s at Stake?

Boston’s postseason berth is all but guaranteed at this point. They lead not only their division but the entire NHL. A loss here won’t hurt them as long as they don’t make losing a regular thing. These two available points will benefit the Canadiens a lot more. Sitting fifth in the Atlantic division, the Habs are currently sitting outside of a playoff spot. But there is still plenty of time to change that. If the Detroit Red Wings can beat the Bruins, any team can. The Canadiens just have to hope that Shea Weber gets back into the lineup sooner rather than later.

Both teams are coming into this game with a weakened defense. Which team will be able to take advantage? The high-shooting Canadiens or the hard-hitting Bruins?

How big of a role will special teams play in this match? Can these two rivals play a disciplined game? Boston’s power play is light years ahead of Montreal’s but things get a little closer on the penalty kill. Montreal also takes fewer penalties than their opponents.

Both teams are capable of scoring but is this game destined to become a goaltending showdown? Tuuka Rask has been great all season but Carey Price seems to be getting back into the all-star form that most hockey fans know him for.

Montreal Canadiens Injury Report

F Paul Byron – DL (knee)

D Shea Weber – DL (lower-body)

Boston Bruins Injury Report

G Jaroslav Halak – day-to-day (upper-body)

D Kevan Miller – IR/NR (kneecap)

D Jeremy Lauzon – OUT (suspension)

D Connor Clifton – DL (upper-body)

Montreal Canadiens vs Boston Bruins Odds

The latest odds for Canadiens vs Bruins are provided by bet365 NJ, DraftKings Sportsbook, and 888Sport NJ.

Good luck!