Toronto Maple Leafs vs Montreal Canadiens Prediction, 3/9/2024 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Toronto Maple Leafs vs Montreal Canadiens

Date: Saturday, March 9, 2024

Location: Bell Centre in Montreal, QC

TV: TSN

Odds/Point Spread: Maple Leafs (-177) Canadiens (+145)

The Toronto Maple Leafs (36-19-8) are hitting the road to Bell Centre on Saturday where they will take on the Montreal Canadiens (24-29-10). The moneyline on this game has Toronto at -177 and Montreal opens at +145. The over/under comes in at 7.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will need a bounce back game after taking a 4-1 loss against the Bruins their last time out. Toronto tallied 26 minutes in the box in this matchup. The Maple Leafs had a below average offensive performance in this loss. In addition, they had 4 power play chances and were able to score 1 goal. For the matchup, they finished 1 of the 29 shots they put on goal.

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When playing at even strength, the Maple Leafs have allowed 159 goals while scoring 174 themselves. Toronto Maple Leafs opponents have recorded 173 power play opportunities (30th in pro hockey) and have a total of 39 goals in those chances. In relation to scoring goals, the Toronto Maple Leafs have earned 223 goals (4th in the National Hockey League) on the year and have surrendered 198. Toronto has taken 2,065 shots and holds a shot percentage of 10.8%. For the current season, they have earned 80 points and their points percentage sits at .635. The Maple Leafs have had 1,872 shots tried against them and have a save percentage of .894. Toronto has compiled 178 power play opportunities and they have scored 49 goals out of those attempts, giving them a rate of 27.53%.

The man protecting the goal in this game is Ilya Samsonov. Samsonov has been involved in 160 matchups during his NHL career. He has earned an overall record of 95-37-19 and he has gotten the start in 148 games. The opposition has notched 410 goals versus Samsonov in his pro hockey career and his goals against average per contest is 2.74. Samsonov has seen 4,266 shot attempts against him and has accrued 3,856 saves. His save percentage is .904 for his 8,983 mins between the pipes. During his career on the ice, Samsonov has tallied 73 quality starts and his percentage for quality starts is .493.

In their last game, Montreal went up against the Hurricanes in an outing where the Canadiens went home in defeat by a final of 4-1. They had 5 power play chances in this contest but weren't able to notch a goal. The Canadiens converted 1 goal out of the 25 shots on goal they took.

So far this year, the Montreal Canadiens have earned 174 goals, 58 points, and a points percentage of .460. They have allowed 220 goals to be scored by of a combination of 166 goals at even strength and 54 goals while they were shorthanded. The Canadiens have scored 136 goals at even strength and 38 goals (19th in hockey) while on the power play. They have a tally of 204 power play chances and they have earned a power play percentage of 18.63%. Montreal has taken 1,784 shots (27th in the league) and has earned a shooting percentage of 9.75%, while allowing the other team 2,099 shots. They have accumulated a penalty kill percentage of 74.88% on their opponents 215 power play opportunities, and their save percentage currently sits at 89.5%.

On the other side of the ice you will find Sam Montembeault in goal. Montembeault is the owner of a career mark of 46-56-17 and has played in 133 games. Montembeault's quality start rate sits at 52.1% and he has qualified for 61 quality starts in his professional career. He has racked up 3,677 stops out of the 4,095 shots tried, giving him a save % of .898. His opposition is averaging 3.41 goals/game and he has allowed 418 goals in total. He has made the start in 117 contests and has played 7,363 minutes.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Toronto (-177)

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