Montreal Canadiens vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction, 11/29/2023 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Montreal Canadiens vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Date: Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Location: Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH

TV: Bally Sports Ohio

Odds/Point Spread: Canadiens (+107) Blue Jackets (-130)

The Montreal Canadiens (9-10-2) are headed to Nationwide Arena on Wednesday where they will play the Columbus Blue Jackets (7-12-4). The moneyline on this game has Montreal at +107 and Columbus is priced at -130. The over/under is 7.

The Montreal Canadiens were on the losing side of the ice with a 4-0 defeat against the Kings in their previous contest . Montreal accumulated 4 penalty mins for this contest. Furthermore, they had 3 opportunities with more players on the ice but weren't able to score. The Canadiens didn't have their best offensive outing in this defeat. For the matchup, they walked away having not converted any of the 18 shots they put on net.

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Montreal Canadiens opponents have totaled 83 power play opportunities (3rd in the league) and have racked up 22 goals in those chances. The Canadiens have had 724 shots taken against them and hold a save percentage of .899. Montreal has attempted 598 shots and has a shot percentage of 9.5%. When at even strength, the Canadiens let the opposition score 51 goals while having 43 themselves. Montreal has 78 power play opportunities and they have notched 14 goals out of those tries, earning them a percentage of 17.95%. For the season, they have scored 20 points and their points percentage sits at .476. Concerning scoring goals, the Montreal Canadiens have notched 57 goals (27th in pro hockey) on the season and have conceded 73.

The man protecting the goal in this game is Sam Montembeault. For his professional hockey career, Montembeault has recorded 46 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is .479. He has a save percentage of .897 for his 6,102 minutes guarding the cage. Montembeault has had 3,380 shots against him and has gathered 3,031 total saves. Opponents have tallied 349 goals against Montembeault in his NHL career and his goals against average per contest is 3.43. He has accumulated a win-loss record of 37-48-13 and he started in 96 games. Montembeault has taken the ice for 112 contests over the course of his NHL career.

In their last contest, Columbus squared up with the Bruins in a game where the Blue Jackets earned a win by a final score of 5-2. The Blue Jackets netted 5 goals of the 40 shots on goal they tried. They had 5 power play chances in this matchup and earned 1 out of those attempts.

The Blue Jackets have accumulated 59 goals at even strength and 8 goals (27th in professional hockey) while on the power play. Columbus has attempted 703 shots (3rd in hockey) and has earned a shot percentage of 9.53%, while allowing the other team 771 shots. During this campaign, the Columbus Blue Jackets are sitting with 67 goals, 18 points, in addition to a points percentage of .391. They have allowed 78 goals to be scored by way of 71 goals at even strength and 7 goals while they had less men on the ice. They have a total of 72 chances on the power play and they have a power play rate of 11.11%. They have a penalty kill rate of 89.23% on the other teams 65 power play chances, and their save percentage is currently 89.9%.

Across the rink you are likely to see Elvis Merzlikins in goal. He has racked up 4,576 stops out of the 5,050 shots tried, giving him a save % of .906. Merzlikins has a career mark of 60-69-25 and has played in 166 contests. He has made the start in 153 games and his ice time sits at 9,079 mins. Merzlikins' rate of quality starts sits at 49.7% and he has 76 quality starting assignments in his career. The opposition is averaging 3.13 goals/game and he has surrendered 474 goals overall.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Montreal (+107)

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