2011 NHL Hockey Night In Canada – Free Predictions: Bruins vs Canadiens
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Boston Bruins (21-12-6) at Montreal Canadiens (22-16-3)
Date/Time: Saturday, January 8, 2011, 7:00 PM ET
Venue: Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec
Broadcast: CBC (HD), NHL NETWORK-US (HD), RDS (HD)
Bruins vs. Canadiens Betting Lines from Sportsbook.com
Spread: Boston +1.5 (+125): Montreal -1.5 (+250)
Moneyline: Boston even: Montreal -120
Over/Under: 5 goals
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The two top teams in the Northeast Division meet on Saturday night with the Bruins trying to create some separation and the Canadiens trying to leapfrog the Bruins in the standings. Neither team is playing particularly well, but the Bruins have been good on the road (8 of a possible 10 points in their most recent five game road trip) and the Canadiens have gone 7-1-0 in the last eight meetings with Boston in the last two seasons.
Boston is 5-3-2 in their last 10 games and still holds the #1 rank in goals against in the NHL. Although the team is holding its own in the standings, there are a number of Bruins that are struggling mightily in the offensive zone. The 14th ranked offense (2.8 goals per game) includes Mark Savard who has only 6 points in his last 16 games, Blake Wheeler and David Krejci who are pointless in three games and Michael Ryder who is pointless in four.
The Bruins will luckily turn to the NHL’s leader in goals against average, Tim Thomas on Saturday night. He is 6-2-4 in his last 12 games with a 2.25 goals against average but is just 3-7-2 in his last 12 trips to the Bell Center with a 3.37 goals against average.
The Montreal Canadiens hope to put their miserable 2-8 December record to bed and start another string of wins on Saturday night after a 2-1 shootout win over the Crosby-less Penguins on Friday night. The Habs are 4-5-1 in their last 10 games and have four consecutive wins over the Bruins.
Montreal continues to have troubles scoring. They are 26th in the league averaging 2.5 goals per game. It is a good thing for the NHL’s 4th best goals against – the banged up defense is holding the Habs in games.
Nobody is lighting it up offensively for Montreal. It is going to be up to Carey Price to hold down the fort as per usual. He is just 2-7-1 with a 3.55 goals against average in his last 10 games but is 11-2-2 with a 2.34 goals against average in his last 15 against Boston.
Betting Prediction: The Canadiens are seriously hurting on the Blue Line which is welcome news to the Bruins. Although Montreal is 19-7 in the last 26 games at home versus Boston and is 7-1 overall in the last eight against the Bruins, look for the Buds to prevail in this one. Montreal is just 4-9 in their last 13 games overall and is struggling in both ends of the rink at the moment. Boston should get a rare win in Montreal on Saturday night.
Pick: Boston Bruins – even odds
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