Montreal Canadiens vs Carolina Hurricanes Prediction, 3/7/2024 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Montreal Canadiens vs Carolina Hurricanes

Date: Thursday, March 7, 2024

Location: PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC

TV: Bally Sports South

Odds/Point Spread: Canadiens (+240) Hurricanes (-305)

PNC Arena is the site where the Carolina Hurricanes (36-19-6) will meet the Montreal Canadiens (24-28-10) on Thursday. The moneyline on this matchup has the Canadiens at +240 and the Hurricanes are coming in at -305. The over/under comes in at 7.

The Montreal Canadiens came out of this game feeling pretty good about themselves with a 4-3 win over the Predators in their previous contest . Montreal had 9 penalty minutes in this matchup. The Canadiens had a solid offensive output and it showed in the victory. They also had 2 power play attempts but weren't able to score. In the game, they tallied a score on 4 out of the 30 shots they attempted.

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Montreal Canadiens opponents have tallied 211 power play opportunities (4th in pro hockey) and have come away with 54 goals in those chances. The Canadiens so far have had 2,060 shots attempted against them and have a save percentage of .895. Montreal has attempted 1,759 shots and is the owner of a shooting percentage of 9.8%. When playing at even strength, the Canadiens have allowed the opponent to score 162 goals while scoring 135 on the offensive side of the ice. Montreal has accounted for 199 power play chances and they have notched 38 goals out of those attempts, garnering them a rate of 19.10%. For the season, they have racked up 58 points and their points percentage is sitting at .468. In terms of their scoring, the Montreal Canadiens have racked up 173 goals (27th in hockey) on the year and have allowed 216.

The man protecting the net in this game is Sam Montembeault. The opposition has scored 415 goals versus Montembeault in his pro hockey career and his goals against average is 3.41. Montembeault has been in net for 132 contests over the course of his NHL career. His save percentage currently is .898 in his 7,303 minutes played. He has a mark of 46-55-17 and he has started in 116 games. During his career on the ice, Montembeault has earned 60 quality starts and his quality starts rate is .517. Montembeault has seen 4,057 shot attempts against him and has accrued 3,642 saves.

When they took the ice last, Carolina faced off against the Jets in a matchup where the Hurricanes went home in defeat by a final of 5-3. The Hurricanes scored 3 goals out of the 35 shots on goal they tried. They had 4 power play chances in this contest and netted 1 out of those attempts.

On the year, the Carolina Hurricanes have tallied 200 goals, 78 points, as well as a points percentage of .639. They have permitted 168 goals to be scored by way of 137 goals at even strength and 31 goals while they were shorthanded. The Hurricanes are sitting with 149 goals at even strength and 51 goals (4th in professional hockey) while on the power play. They have earned 189 chances on the power play and they have a power play rate of 26.98%. Carolina has put up 1,992 shots (9th in the league) and has earned a shot percentage of 10.04%, while allowing the opposition 1,559 shots. They have earned a penalty kill percentage of 84.10% on their opponents 195 power play chances, and their save percentage comes in at 89.2%.

On the other side of the ice you will find Pyotr Kochetkov protecting the goal. His opponents are averaging 2.42 goals per contest and he has yielded 134 goals in total. Kochetkov's quality start rate sits at 58.2% and he has made 32 quality starts in his professional career. He got the starting nod in 55 games and has accumulated 3,323 minutes. Kochetkov has a career mark of 31-18-8 and has participated in 59 games. He has racked up 1,339 stops out of 1,473 shots attempted, giving him a save percentage of .909.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Carolina (-305)

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