Montreal Canadiens vs New York Islanders Prediction, 12/20/2021 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Montreal Canadiens vs New York Islanders

Date: Monday, December 20, 2021

Location: UBS Arena in Elmont, NY

TV: MSG

Odds/Point Spread: Canadiens (+165) Islanders (-200)

Jake Allen and the Montreal Canadiens (7-21-3) are headed to UBS Arena on Monday where they'll meet the New York Islanders (8-12-5). The line on this game has the Canadiens coming in at +165 and the Islanders are at -200. The O/U has been set at 5.5.

The Montreal Canadiens went home feeling good about their game by earning a 3-2 win over the Flyers in their last contest. The Canadiens had an average offensive output in the victory. In the game, they tallied a score on 3 of the 40 shots they put on goal. Additionally, they had 2 attempts on the power play but didn't net one. Montreal tallied 4 penalty mins in this matchup.

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Montreal Canadiens opponents have earned 95 power play tries (5th in professional hockey) and have tallied 27 goals in those chances. The Canadiens have had 1,035 shots attempted against them and have a save percentage of .895. Montreal has taken 912 shots and holds a shooting percentage of 7.2%. At even strength, the Canadiens have allowed the opponent to score 82 goals while scoring 55 of their own. Montreal has accounted for 88 power play chances and they have scored 11 goals during those advantages, garnering them a rate of 12.50%. For the current campaign, they have recorded 17 points and their points percentage comes in at .274. When it comes to their scoring capabilities, the Montreal Canadiens have earned 66 goals (30th in the National Hockey League) on the season and have allowed 109.

The man protecting the goal in this game is Jake Allen. The opposition has scored 816 goals against Allen in his NHL career and his goals against rate is 2.56. Allen has been involved in 341 games during his NHL career. His save percentage is at .911 during his 19,124 mins on the ice. He has amassed an overall mark of 164-121-33 and he started in 321 games. For his career, Allen has recorded 170 quality starts and his percentage for quality starts is .530. Allen has seen 9,198 shot attempts taken against him and has gathered 8,382 saves.

In their last contest, New York went up against the Bruins in a matchup where the Islanders earned a win by a tally of 3-1. They had 5 opportunities on the power play in this game and scored 1 goal out of those attempts. The Islanders scored 3 goals out of the 28 shots on goal they attempted.

The Islanders have accumulated 43 goals at even strength and 11 goals (30th in professional hockey) while having a power play advantage. New York has taken 706 shots (32nd in pro hockey) and has accumulated a shooting percentage of 7.65%, while allowing their opponents 819 shots. On the season, the New York Islanders have earned a total of 54 goals, 21 points, in addition to a points percentage of .420. They have a tally of 68 power play opportunities and they have accumulated a power play percentage of 16.18%. They have recorded a penalty kill percentage of 83.56% on their oppositions 73 tries on the power play, and their save percentage is 91.3%. They have permitted 71 goals to be scored by way of 59 goals at even strength and 12 goals while they were shorthanded.

Across the ice you are going to see Semyon Varlamov in goal. He has gathered 14,739 stops out of the 16,089 shots attempted against him, which gives him a save % of .916. Varlamov is the owner of a career mark of 252-199-61 and has been in net for 537 contests. He was named a starter in 512 games and his ice time sits at 30,766 mins. Varlamov's percentage of quality starts comes out to 56.4% and he has 289 quality starts in his pro hockey career. Teams are averaging 2.63 goals/game and he has relinquished 1,350 goals altogether.

Who will win tonight's hockey game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Montreal (+165)

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