The Montreal Canadiens (21-12-6) are set to face off against the Carolina Hurricanes (24-12-3) on Thursday at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, with the puck set to drop at 7 p.m. ET. This matchup follows an intriguing season series, in which the Canadiens edged the Hurricanes 2-1.
The Canadiens are coming off an impressive 3-2 overtime victory against the Florida Panthers, showcasing their resilience by overcoming a two-goal deficit in the closing minutes of regulation. Center Nick Suzuki was instrumental in the win, scoring a power-play goal early in overtime, while right winger Cole Caufield added to the scoreline. Montreal’s strong performance has seen them compile a record of 6-1-3 in their last ten outings, proving their capability to compete effectively.
In contrast, the Hurricanes are looking to bounce back after suffering a 5-1 defeat to the Pittsburgh Penguins, marking their second consecutive loss. Center Mark Jankowski managed to score the only goal for Carolina in that game, while goaltender Frederik Andersen continued to struggle, extending his winless streak to eight games, with his last victory dating back to early November.
As for the betting odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook, the Canadiens are currently listed as +155 underdogs, while the Hurricanes are favored at -190. The puck line features the Canadiens +1.5 (-155) and the Hurricanes -1.5 (+125), with the over/under set at 6 goals.
In terms of goaltending, Montreal is expected to start Sam Montembeault, who has struggled recently, but managed to secure a win against Florida. His statistics show a GAA of 3.52 and an SV% of .863. Opposing him will be Carolina’s Brandon Bussi, whose impressive rookie season continues with a record of 13-1-1 and a stellar GAA of 2.08 and SV% of .911. Bussi recently delivered a solid performance in a victory over the New York Rangers.
The prediction favors the Hurricanes winning 3-1 against the Canadiens. With Carolina’s strong home performance and their ability to score effectively, experts suggest betting on them to win by more than a goal. Additionally, there is an inclination towards the under on total goals, as both teams have a tendency for tight, low-scoring battles, especially in their recent meetings.
As the teams prepare to face each other, fans can expect a tightly contested game, with the Hurricanes looking to regain their winning momentum while the Canadiens hope to carry their recent success onto the ice.