Columbus Blue Jackets vs Montreal Canadiens Prediction, 3/25/2023 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Montreal Canadiens

Date: Saturday, March 25, 2023

Location: Bell Centre in Montreal, QC

TV: TSN

Odds/Point Spread: Blue Jackets (+100) Canadiens (-118)

The Columbus Blue Jackets (22-41-7) are en route to Bell Centre on Saturday where they will meet the Montreal Canadiens (28-38-6). The line on this contest has Columbus at +100 while Montreal is sitting at -118. The over/under is set at 6.

The Columbus Blue Jackets will head into their next game feeling good after earning a 7-6 win over the Capitals in their last outing. Columbus compiled 4 mins in the box in this contest. The Blue Jackets had a good offensive output in this win. Additionally, they had 1 chance on the power play and were able to score 1 goal. In the matchup, they tallied a score on 7 of the 39 shots they launched.

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Columbus Blue Jackets opponents have 207 power play tries (22nd in the NHL) and have scored 49 goals in those chances. The Blue Jackets have seen 2,467 shots tried against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .890. Columbus has tried 2,091 shots and is the owner of a shot percentage of 9.0%. When at even strength, the Blue Jackets have conceded 223 goals while notching 153 on the offensive side of the ice. Columbus has tallied 184 power play chances and they have tallied 35 goals out of those tries, giving them a rate of 19.02%. For the year, they sit with 51 points and their points percentage comes in at .364. In the matter of scoring goals, the Columbus Blue Jackets have accumulated 188 goals (30th in pro hockey) on the campaign and have given up 272.

Patrolling the crease for the game will be Elvis Merzlikins. Merzlikins has been involved in 149 matchups over the course of his pro hockey career. He has earned an overall record of 55-61-22 and got the start in 136 games. The opposition has scored 422 goals against Merzlikins in his NHL career and his average for goals against per game is 3.10. Merzlikins has seen 4,529 shot attempts against him and has amassed 4,107 saves. He has a save percentage of .907 for his 8,155 mins in the crease. In his professional hockey career, Merzlikins has 67 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is .493.

When they took the ice last, Montreal faced the Bruins in a matchup where the Canadiens went home in defeat by a final of 4-2. They had 5 opportunities on the power play in this one and tallied 2 out of those opportunities. The Canadiens earned 2 goals out of the 31 shots on goal they were seeking.

For the season, the Montreal Canadiens have notched a total of 199 goals, 62 points, in addition to a points percentage of .431. They have allowed 266 goals to be scored by of a combination of 201 goals at even strength and 65 goals while they were shorthanded. The Canadiens have accumulated 163 goals at even strength and 36 goals (26th in professional hockey) while having a power play advantage. They have a tally of 211 power play opportunities and they have a power play percentage of 17.06%. Montreal has taken 1,971 shots (30th in professional hockey) and has a shot percentage of 10.10%, while allowing the other team 2,441 shots. They have accumulated a penalty kill percentage of 72.69% on the other teams 238 power play tries, and their save percentage comes in at 89.1%.

On the other side of the ice you will find Sam Montembeault protecting the goal. Montembeault is the owner of a career record of 31-40-12 and has been in goal for 96 games. Montembeault's quality start percentage is 46.9% and he has earned 38 quality starting assignments in his career. He has recorded 2,580 saves out of the 2,877 shots attempted against him, which gives him a percentage of .897. His opposition is averaging 3.46 goals/game and he has surrendered 297 goals altogether. He got the starting nod in 81 contests and has accumulated 5,153 mins.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh's Pick: Take Montreal (-118)

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