Since their fluke run to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final, the Montreal Canadiens have not returned to the playoffs. After falling out with a 22-49-11 in 2022, the Canadiens have methodically improved under head coach Martin St. Louis. Under St. Louis, Montreal has improved from being hopeless to being competitive. Still, the Canadiens had some of the worst NHL betting odds last year. Thus, the problem is not St. Louis as much as it is with a lack of talent. In the eyes of gamblers, the Canadiens rank in the bottom quarter of the board.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Pittsburgh Penguins NHL Betting Information
| Date and Time: | Saturday, November 2, 2024, 7 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA |
| TV Coverage: | NHL Net |
| Betting Online Odds at SBG: | Click Here |
Montreal Canadiens Team Overview
The Montreal Canadiens are 3-4-1 straight up and 4-4 over/under the online wagering total. Also, Montreal is 14th in the Eastern Conference playoff standings. Montreal is six points behind the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Late on, Montreal has covered one out of their last five games. While the Canadiens have gone over the total in three of its previous four matchups. Montreal has NHL rankings of 24th for goals scored and 10th for power play efficiency. In comparison, on defense, the Canadiens have NHL rankings of 29th for goals against and 5th for penalty killing.
Cole Caufield scored his seventh goal of the season. Also, Kirby Dach scored for the first time since 2023. Hence, the Montreal Canadiens beat the St. Louis Blues 5-2 on Saturday. Montreal jumped out to a 2-0 lead with goals from Dach and Jake Evans. Next, the Blues tied it with goals from Colton Parayko and Jake Neighbours.
Alex Newhook and Caufield’s goals at the end of the second period. And then, at the beginning of the third, put the Canadiens in control. Additionally, Joel Armia added another into an empty net to put the game out of reach. Sam Montembeault had 29 saves in the win. While Jordan Binnington let in four goals on 25 Canadian shots.
With a two-goal lead and eight minutes left in the game, the Canadiens faced a crucial short-handed situation. However, Montreal not only killed off the penalty but also managed to create scoring threats of its own.
Consider that Dach scored his first goal since March 23, 2023, after missing the entire 2023-2024 season with a torn ACL.
Pittsburgh Penguins Team Overview
The Pittsburgh Penguins are 3-6-1 straight up and 4-6 over/under the NHL betting total. Also, Pittsburgh is 15th in the Eastern Conference playoff standings. Pittsburgh is six points behind the New York Rangers the Eastern Conference playoff race. Late on, Pittsburgh has covered one out of their last six games. While the Penguins have gone over the total in three of its previous four matchups.
Pittsburgh has NHL rankings of 19th for goals scored and 13th for power play efficiency. In comparison, on defense, the Penguins have NHL rankings of 32nd for goals against and 13th for penalty killing. Arshdeep Bains scored the first goal of his NHL career. Meanwhile, the Vancouver Canucks scored four goals in under six minutes for a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.
Namely, Elias Pettersson scored the first of a quick four-goal run midway through the second period. That was after the Penguins built a 2-0 lead. Kiefer Sherwood and J.T. Miller scored before Bains buried the puck into the back of the net to cap the run. Bains’ goal provided insurance for Vancouver. Following Evgeni Malkin’s scoring in the third period.
Malkin also had two assists for the Penguins. At the same time, Anthony Beauvillier contributed a goal and an assist. Bryan Rust rounded out the scoring. Goaltender Kevin Lankinen stopped 21 shots for the Canucks, and Alex Nedeljkovic made 30 saves for Pittsburgh.
The visitors were the dominant side throughout the first period, with Beauvillier opening the scoring 7:48 in. However, the Penguins were ultimately outshot 34-23.
Canadiens at Penguins SBG Free Picks
In this situation, Montreal offers more value as the road team in an even matchup. Neither team has been tight defensively.
Canadiens at Penguins SBG Best Bet: Montreal Canadiens and Over the Total.