Surging Habs Host Devils in Front End of Home-and Home
The New Jersey Devils will look to climb over .500 for the first time this season Monday when they travel to Montreal to play in a building they have mastered the last half-dozen years.
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New Jersey (11-11-1-4) at Montreal (15-9-0-3)
When: 7:30 PM ET, Monday, December 2, 2013
Where: Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec
Broadcast: RDS, MSG PLUS, TSN-HABS
Devils vs. Canadiens Betting Lines
New Jersey Devils +1½ -205 +152 Ov 5 +124
Montreal Canadiens -1½ +175 -167 Un 5 -136
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New Jersey is 8-0-1 in their last nine visits to Montreal the last six years but will be hard pressed to continue that trend Monday. The Habs have been playing their best hockey of the season of late – not losing in regulation in the last two weeks.
The New Jersey Devils are finally starting to turn things around a little bit – seven wins in their last 11 games. They have won two straight games ahead of Monday night`s game and they have been getting it done, not surprisingly, with defense. New Jersey is allowing just 2.22 goals per game – good for third in the Eastern Conference and they have given up two of fewer goals in 11 of their last 15 games overall.
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The starting goaltender hasn`t been named yet but you`d have to think that Martin Brodeur would get the nod based on his numbers at Bell Center. He went on a run of 7-0 with a 1.00 GAA before at 4-3 OT loss in Montreal.
Offensively the Devils are still among the worst in the NHL – just 2.18 goals per game so far this year. Devils defenseman Andy Greene is on a five-game point streak (one goal, five assists), Jaromir Jagr has three points in two games, Danius Zubrus has three points in two games and Adam Henrique has two points in his last two games – nothing special whatsoever.
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It`s hard not to like what the Montreal Canadiens have done the last two weeks – 5-0-1. The Canadiens haven’t allowed more than two regulation goals in their last 10 games and they’re allowing 2.00 goals per game, which trails only Atlantic Division-leading Boston. Carey Price has won his past four starts for Montreal and his .937 save percentage is fourth-best in the NHL. Defense has been the name of the game.
The Habs are playing well on offense as well – doing enough and shutting teams down defensively. Brian Gionta and Max Pacioretty each have three points in two games and looked very good in a 4-2 win versus Toronto, Tomas Plekanec has looked good, Daniele Briere has two points in his last two games and PK Subban has six points in his last six. Montreal`s power play continues to be strong as well – 24%.
The Montreal Canadiens appear to be rounding into form – there are few weaknesses on this team ahead of Monday Night’s contest.
Betting Prediction
A few trends to consider:
• Under is 8-2-2 in NJ last 12 vs. Atlantic.
• NJ are 8-24 in their last 32 road games.
• Under is 13-5-5 in NJ last 23 road games.
• MON are 7-2 in their last 9 vs. Metropolitan.
• MON are 3-9 in their last 12 Mon. games.
• Under is 17-6-3 in MON last 26 overall.
• NJ are 8-1 in the last 9 meetings in Montreal.
• Road team is 11-3 in the last 14 meetings.
After singing the praises of the Montreal Canadiens – you know where I`m going with this. Even if the Canadiens sit Carey Price, Peter Budaj is 4-1-1 in his last five starts with a 1.63 GAA and .939 save percentage over that span. Too much is going right for Montreal right now – take the home team.
Pick: Montreal Canadiens -167
