Boston Bruins vs Montreal Canadiens Prediction, 3/14/2024 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Boston Bruins vs Montreal Canadiens

Date: Thursday, March 14, 2024

Location: Bell Centre in Montreal, QC

TV: TSN

Odds/Point Spread: Bruins (-225) Canadiens (+180)

The Montreal Canadiens (25-30-10) will play the Boston Bruins (38-14-15) at Bell Centre on Thursday. The odds on this game have the Bruins at -225 while the Canadiens are sitting at +180. The betting total comes in at 7.

The Boston Bruins had a rough game after their 5-1 loss against the Blues in their last outing. Boston accrued 6 mins in the box in this game. Moreover, they had 3 attempts on the power play but weren't able to score a goal. The Bruins didn't have a great showing offensively in the defeat. For the game, they converted 1 out of the 37 shots they put on goal.

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When playing at even strength, the Bruins have surrendered 139 goals while having 172 of their own. Boston Bruins opponents have 229 power play tries (2nd in the NHL) and have scored 42 goals in those attempts. In the matter of their scoring capabilities, the Boston Bruins have notched 220 goals (7th in the NHL) on the year and have surrendered 181. Boston has tried 2,005 shots and holds a shot percentage of 11.0%. For the current campaign, they sit with 91 points and their points percentage is sitting at .679. The Bruins so far have had 2,100 shots taken against them and have earned a save percentage of .914. Boston comes into tonight with 203 power play chances and they have notched 48 goals out of those chances, giving them a rate of 23.65%.

Patrolling the crease for the game will be Linus Ullmark. The opposition has scored 582 goals against Ullmark in his pro hockey career and his goals against average is 2.53. Ullmark has participated in 240 games over the course of his professional hockey career. His save percentage currently sits at .918 in his 13,810 minutes guarding the cage. He has a record of 133-70-23 and he has started in 230 games. In his career, Ullmark is sitting with 146 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is .635. Ullmark has seen 7,108 shots taken against him and has gathered 6,526 total saves.

Their last time out, Montreal faced the Blue Jackets in an outing where the Canadiens got the win by a final score of 3-0. They had 3 power play attempts in this matchup and scored 1 out of those chances. The Canadiens netted 3 goals out of the 23 shots on goal they tried.

The Canadiens have racked up 139 goals at even strength and 40 goals (19th in hockey) while having a power play advantage. Montreal has taken 1,838 shots (27th in hockey) and has a shooting percentage of 9.74%, while allowing their opponents 2,167 shots. On the season, the Montreal Canadiens have notched a total of 179 goals, 60 points, as well as a points percentage of .462. They have permitted 223 goals to be scored by of a combination of 169 goals at even strength and 54 goals while they had less men on the ice. They have earned 211 power play chances and they have accumulated a power play percentage of 18.96%. They have recorded a penalty kill rate of 75.57% on their oppositions 221 power play chances, and their save percentage comes in at 89.7%.

Across the rink you are going to see Sam Montembeault patrolling the crease. The opposition is averaging 3.40 goals per game and he has relinquished 421 goals altogether. Montembeault's rate of quality starts is 51.7% and he has earned 61 quality starts in his hockey career. He has made the start in 118 games and has played for a total of 7,421 mins. Montembeault has earned a career mark of 46-57-17 and has participated in 134 contests. He has gathered 3,701 saves out of 4,122 shots taken, which gives him a percentage of .898.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Boston (-225)

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