Montreal Canadiens versus New York Rangers NHL betting preview
Time: 7:05 PM
Venue: Madison Square Garden
Sportsbook odds for fans who bet on hockey:
Canadiens -1½ (+265) 5 (+115) -115
Rangers +1½ (-325) 5 (-135) -105
Montreal forward Alexander Radulov scored his second goal of the series and had an assist to help his team beat the Rangers 3-1 on Sunday and take a 2-1 lead in their Stanley Cup playoffs first round series. Artturi Lehkonen and Shea Weber each scored on power-plays and goalie Carey Price made 20 saves. Brady Skjei scored the Rangers’ lone goal and his first in the league while Henrik Lundqvist made 26 saves. The New York squad went 0-for-3 on the power play for a grand total of 0-for-10 overall in the series.
Montreal
Recent form: The Habs have won eight of their last eleven contests – including the last two straight to turn the tide on the series – and six of the last seven road games. Game 4 should theoretically pose no problem to Montreal, which has has won 40 of 50 series in which they led 2-1, 43 of 81 Game 4s on the road, and three straight games or more five times this season. Furthermore, Tomas Plekanec has six points in 14 career Game 4s.
News: The Canadiens enjoyed a well deserved day off from practice on Monday, with only players that didn’t suit up on Sunday skating at Madison Square Garden.
Trends for fans who bet on hockey: The Habs have covered in just two of their last six games. The NHL betting odds total has gone under in six of Montreal’s last eight games and in five of their last five road games.
New York
Recent form: Home has not been kind to the Rangers, who have lost six straight postseason games at MSG as well as nine of the last 11 overall. In addition to that, NYR is 0-5 in the last five times hosting the Habs and 1-5 in their last six encounters with Montreal. All things considered, tonight’s may well be the Blueshirts’ will last game in the World’s Most Famous Arena until next season, as fewer than 10% of teams have rallied from 1-3 deficit since the 2005 lockout season.
News: According to center and alternate captain Derek Stepan, the Rangers didn’t “work smart” on Sunday. Okay, but did they shop smart? “I don’t think it’s a lack of effort,” Stepan added. “I think it’s a lack of brain power at times.” And at times the jokes write themselves. He’s right, though; as Jim Wohlford said of baseball, “ninety percent of this game is half-mental.”
Trends for fans who bet on hockey: The Rangers have not been luckier at covering the spread at home than they have been winning games. The New York team is 0-5 ATS in the last five games at home – and 2-6 against the spread in the last eight overall games. The NHL betting total has gone under in five of the Rangers’ last six games.