Montreal Canadiens vs New York Islanders Prediction, 3/20/2025 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Montreal Canadiens vs New York Islanders

Date: Thursday, March 20, 2025

Location: UBS Arena in Elmont, NY

TV: MSG

Odds/Point Spread: Canadiens (-122) Islanders (+102)

The New York Islanders (31-28-8) welcome the Montreal Canadiens (33-27-7) at UBS Arena on Thursday. The moneyline on this contest has the Canadiens at -122 and the Islanders are priced at +102. The total is set at 6.

The Montreal Canadiens were on the right side of the scoreboard with a 6-3 victory over the Senators in their previous game. Montreal accumulated 6 penalty minutes in this matchup. The Canadiens had a good offensive output in the win. Furthermore, they had 4 power play opportunities and were able to score 1 goal. In the game, they tallied a score on 6 of the 33 shots they attempted.

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At even strength, the Canadiens have allowed 178 goals while scoring 158 on the offensive side of the ice. Montreal Canadiens opponents have tallied 213 power play tries (1st in pro hockey) and have tallied 39 goals in those attempts. With respect to scoring goals, the Montreal Canadiens have tallied 201 goals (18th in the NHL) on the year and have given up 217. Montreal has taken 1,736 shots and is the owner of a shooting percentage of 11.6%. For the season, they have recorded 73 points and their points percentage is .545. The Canadiens so far have had 1,937 shots taken against them and hold a save percentage of .888. Montreal comes into tonight with 196 power play chances and they have added 43 goals out of those tries, giving them a rate of 21.94%.

The player between the pipes for this game is Sam Montembeault. The opposition has scored 584 goals versus Montembeault in his professional hockey career and his goals against average per contest is 4.32. Montembeault has participated in 194 matchups over the course of his hockey career. His save percentage is .899 in his 8,114 minutes in the crease. He has amassed a mark of 74-81-25 and he has gotten the start in 176 games. In his career, Montembeault has earned 93 quality starts and his percentage for quality starts is .528. Montembeault has had 5,756 shot attempts taken against him and has recorded 5,172 saves.

When they were on the ice last, New York went up against the Penguins in an outing where the Islanders ended up with the victory by a mark of 4-2. The Islanders earned 4 goals out of the 38 shots on goal they were seeking. They had 1 power play chance in this game but weren't able to put one in the back of the net.

The Islanders have earned 162 goals at even strength and 19 goals (32nd in the league) while on the power play. New York has put up 1,955 shots (11th in pro hockey) and has earned a shooting percentage of 9.26%, while allowing their opponents 1,918 shots. For the season, the New York Islanders have a total of 181 goals, 70 points, as well as a points percentage of .522. They have permitted 197 goals to be scored by of a combination of 155 goals at even strength and 42 goals while they were shorthanded. They have a total of 166 power play opportunities and they have earned a power play percentage of 11.45%. They have recorded a penalty kill rate of 71.23% on their opponents 146 power play opportunities, and their save percentage sits at 89.7%.

On the other side of the ice you are going to see Ilya Sorokin protecting the goal. Sorokin is the owner of a lifetime record of 121-85-35 and has participated in 243 games. Sorokin's rate of quality starts comes out to 66.8% and he has accumulated 159 quality starting assignments in his pro career. He has recorded 6,677 saves out of the 7,286 shots taken against him, giving him a rate of .916. Opponents are averaging 3.21 goals per game and he has conceded 609 goals overall. He has started in 238 games and has played for a total of 11,379 mins.

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

Josh's Pick: Take New York (+102)

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