Montreal Canadiens vs Colorado Avalanche Prediction, 1/4/2025 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Montreal Canadiens vs Colorado Avalanche

Date: Saturday, January 4, 2025

Location: Ball Arena in Denver, CO

TV: Altitude Sports

Odds/Point Spread: Canadiens (+110) Avalanche (-130)

The Colorado Avalanche (24-15-0) will play the Montreal Canadiens (17-17-3) at Ball Arena on Saturday. The odds on this game have Montreal at +110 while Colorado is at -130. The betting total comes in at 6.

The Montreal Canadiens were on the winning side of the scoreboard with a 3-2 victory over the Golden Knights their last time out. Montreal garnered 2 penalty minutes for this game. They also had 1 power play opportunity but didn't convert it into a score. The Canadiens had an average offensive output in this victory. For the game, they converted 3 out of the 22 shots they put on goal.

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In the matter of their goal scoring prowess, the Montreal Canadiens have accumulated 112 goals (21st in the National Hockey League) on the year and have given up 126. For the year, they have earned 37 points and their points percentage is sitting at .500. Montreal is sitting with 112 power play opportunities and they have added 24 goals out of those tries, garnering them a percentage of 21.43%. When at even strength, the Canadiens have surrendered 104 goals while getting 88 themselves. Montreal has taken 927 shots and is the owner of a shooting percentage of 12.1%. The Canadiens have had 1,085 shots taken against them and hold a save percentage of .884. Montreal Canadiens opponents have 127 power play tries (4th in the NHL) and have tallied 22 goals in those chances.

The man in goal for this game is Sam Montembeault. Opponents have been able to score 529 goals versus Montembeault in his pro career and his goals against average per game is 3.94. Montembeault has taken the ice for 174 games throughout his hockey career. He has a save percentage of .898 during his 8,065 mins guarding the cage. He has accumulated a mark of 63-74-23 and he has gotten the start in 157 games. Over the course of his career, Montembeault has accounted for 84 quality starts and his quality starts percentage sits at .535. Montembeault has seen 5,208 shots taken against him and he has 4,679 saves.

When they took the ice last, Colorado played the Sabres in a game where the Avalanche notched a victory by a final score of 6-5. The Avalanche netted 6 goals out of the 29 shots on goal they tried. They had 3 attempts on the power play in this outing and notched 1 out of those opportunities.

For the season, the Colorado Avalanche are sitting with 135 goals, 48 points, and a points percentage of .615. They have granted a total of 128 goals to be scored by way of 104 goals at even strength and 24 goals while they had less men on the ice. The Avalanche have tallied 107 goals at even strength and 28 goals (7th in the NHL) while having a power play advantage. They have a tally of 118 opportunities on the power play and they have accumulated a power play percentage of 23.73%. Colorado has taken 1,154 shots (7th in pro hockey) and has earned a shooting percentage of 11.70%, while allowing the other team 1,043 shots. They have earned a penalty kill rate of 76.24% on the other teams 101 power play opportunities, and their save percentage sits at 87.7%.

For the opposition you are likely to see Mackenzie Blackwood in the crease. Opponents are averaging 3.41 goals per contest and he has relinquished 629 goals altogether. Blackwood's rate of quality starts sits at 55.1% and he has 114 quality starts in his pro career. He has been a starter 207 games and has been on the ice for 11,060 mins. Blackwood has accumulated a career record of 87-92-25 and has participated in 222 contests. He is sitting with 6,009 saves out of the 6,638 shots attempted against him, which gives him a rate of .905.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Montreal (+110)

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