NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are today’s NHL predictions and best bets.
Montreal Canadiens (20-12-6) at Florida Panthers (21-15-2)
Canadiens (+115) at Panthers (-140) – Total 6.5 (Under -115)
7 p.m. ET
The Canadiens take their five-game winning streak to Sunrise, Fla., for a meeting with the two-time Stanley Cup champion Panthers. Samuel Montembeault returns to the crease for the Habs after being recalled from the American Hockey League and will make his first NHL start since December 2. The one-time Panthers goalie has won his last four starts against his former team, giving up two goals or fewer in three of the four starts (three in the other).
The Panthers will be on the second half of a back-to-back after rallying for three unanswered goals in the third period for a 5-3 victory against the Washington Capitals. Florida is 1-3 this season on the second game of back-to-backs, and like the previous four games, Daniil Tarasov will get the start in goal for Florida. The Panthers have scored two or fewer goals in each of the three losses and lost by at least two goals in all three defeats.
This is a bad spot for the Panthers. Florida is on the second half of a back-to-back and is coming off games against Washington, in-state rival Tampa Bay, two with Carolina and St. Louis. After tonight’s game, the Panthers face Tampa in the Winter Classic on January 2. I am all over Montreal tonight. As I mentioned, the Canadiens have won five straight over the Panthers and Montembeault was the goalie in four of the wins, giving up two goals or fewer in three of the four victories. Plus, the Canadiens have covered the Puck Line (-1.5 goals) in four of their last wins over Florida. Montreal has also covered the Puck Line in each of its last five wins overall. Fifteen of Florida’s 17 losses this season have been by two goals or more.
A couple of Montreal player props for good measure. Juraj Slafkovsky has goals in back-to-back games and has seven points in nine career games versus Florida. Linemate Ivan Demidov has goals in three consecutive games. Defenseman Noah Dobson has four assists in the past two games and has recorded an assist in six of his last eight games versus Florida.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Montreal Canadiens -1.5 (+260) – .50 unit
Montreal Canadiens Money Line (+115) – 1.25 units
Ivan Demidov anytime goal (+270) – .10 units
Juraj Slafkovsky anytime goal (+250) – .10 units
Juraj Slafkovsky Over ½ assist (+170) – .10 units
Noah Dobson Over ½ assist (+200) – .10 units
Cole Caufield anytime goal (+170) – .10 units
