We have your Montreal Canadiens vs. New Jersey Devils prop betting and game preview needs covered as the Montreal Canadiens hit the road to face the New Jersey Devils.
The New Jersey Devils (22-16-3) are set to host the Montreal Canadiens (18-18-7) in a mid-season clash that could have playoff implications down the line. With both teams looking to climb the Eastern Conference standings, this matchup promises to be a fiercely contested battle on the ice.
Montreal Canadiens vs. New Jersey Devils Odds Info
Moneyline: Montreal Canadiens +180 (BetMGM) / New Jersey Devils -225 (BetMGM)
Puck Line: -1.5 – Montreal Canadiens -144 (FanDuel) / New Jersey Devils +124 (DraftKings)
Total: 6.5 – -105 (PointsBet) / -110 (DraftKings)
Game Info
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 17
Time: 07:00 PM
Location: Prudential Center – Newark, NJ
TV: ESPN+
Montreal Canadiens Betting Trends
- On the road this season, the Montreal Canadiens have 9 wins and 11 losses.
- As the underdog this season, the Montreal Canadiens have 15 wins and 24 losses.
- This season, the Montreal Canadiens have hit 22 overs and 21 unders.
New Jersey Devils Betting Trends
- At home this season, the New Jersey Devils have 9 wins and 11 losses.
- As the favorite this season, the New Jersey Devils have 19 wins and 12 losses.
- This season, the New Jersey Devils have hit 26 overs and 15 unders.
Historic Head-to-Head Stats and Analysis
Over the course of the last two seasons, the New Jersey Devils and the Montreal Canadiens have faced off four times, with the Devils winning three of those encounters and the Canadiens claiming victory once. Interestingly, the visiting team has emerged victorious in all four matchups, indicating a trend that home-ice advantage has not played a significant role in this particular series. When it comes to betting statistics, the Devils have also dominated, covering the spread in three out of the four games, while the Canadiens have done so just once. The total score has equally split between hitting the over and the under, with two games for each. Other notable statistics from these games include the Devils’ strong goaltending performances, particularly from Vitek Vanecek, who posted high save percentages in the games he played. The Canadiens, on the other hand, have struggled in faceoff wins, particularly in the most recent game where they won only 36.7% of faceoffs.
The most recent game between the two teams took place on October 24, 2023, and saw the New Jersey Devils defeat the Montreal Canadiens with a final score of 5-2. The Devils were the favorites going into the game, as indicated by their -235 closing moneyline compared to the Canadiens’ +188. Tyler Toffoli was a standout player for the Devils, contributing a hat trick to the victory. The Devils showcased their power play prowess, converting on 50% of their opportunities, while the Canadiens’ Mike Matheson and Justin Barron managed to get on the score sheet. The game ultimately went over the closing over-under of 6.5, with a total score of 7. Faceoffs were a point of weakness for the Canadiens, and the Devils capitalized on this, winning 38 faceoffs to the Canadiens’ 22.
Montreal Canadiens vs. New Jersey Devils Predictions
The Devils, currently 12th in the Eastern Conference, are looking to bounce back from a recent loss and regain their earlier season form. Jesper Bratt has been a standout for the Devils, leading the team with 16 goals and 30 assists. However, the team’s overall performance has been inconsistent, with a need to improve both offensively and defensively to secure a playoff spot. The Devils will be relying on their home advantage at the Prudential Center to get back on track.
Montreal, sitting just one spot below New Jersey in the conference rankings, comes into the game with a bit of momentum after a win in their last outing. The Canadiens will be leaning on their top scorer, Nick Suzuki, who has tallied 37 points this season, and sharpshooter Cole Caufield to penetrate the Devils’ defense. The Canadiens have shown resilience on the road, and their recent performances suggest they could be a tough opponent for the Devils.
Defensively, both teams have had their struggles, but it will be the goaltending that could make the difference in this game. The Devils’ Vitek Vanecek has shown flashes of brilliance between the pipes, and the Canadiens will need to be creative to get pucks past him. On the other end, the Canadiens’ goaltending will be put to the test by the Devils’ offense, which has the potential to be explosive when firing on all cylinders. This game could come down to which team can capitalize on their power play opportunities and who can win the battle at the faceoff dot.
Montreal Canadiens vs. New Jersey Devils Pick
Given the recent trends and the current odds, the smart pick for this game is the Montreal Canadiens moneyline bet. The Canadiens have shown a strong ability to perform on the road, as evidenced by their road win percentage of 0.45, which is notably higher than their home win percentage. Additionally, the Canadiens have been successful against the spread this season, with a 0.6279 ATS win percentage, indicating their ability to outperform expectations. Historically, the visiting team has won all four of the last matchups between these two teams, and with the Canadiens coming off a win and the Devils on a losing streak, momentum is on the side of Montreal. Furthermore, the Canadiens’ top players like Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield have the offensive prowess to challenge the Devils’ goaltending, which has been inconsistent at times this season.
While the Devils have the home-ice advantage and a strong player in Jesper Bratt, the Canadiens’ recent form and the historical head-to-head data suggest that they have the edge in this matchup. The Devils’ recent struggles, particularly in covering the spread where they have a 0.3171 ATS win percentage, and their inability to capitalize on their home games, with a home win percentage of just 0.45, make the Canadiens’ moneyline bet an attractive option. Considering the odds and the potential for a high-scoring affair, betting on the Canadiens to continue the trend of road team victories in this series seems to be the right choice.
The Pick: Montreal Canadiens +180 (BetMGM)