At the beginning of the new season not much was expected from Montreal with the NHL lines. Much of that was based on last year’s catastrophe of a season in which they were one of the NHL’s worst teams. Most of all the difference between last year and this year is the return of goaltender Carey Price. Additionally, backup goaltender Antti Niemi has looked sharp as well. In a similar light Montreal has also shown improvement offensively. Boston is one of the toughest home teams in the NHL. But their back end and goal-tending has become a concern.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins
Date and Time: Saturday, October 28, 2018, 7 p.m. ET
Location: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
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Canadiens vs. Bruins TV Coverage: NHL Network
Boston Bruins
Boston is 4-2-2 to start the season with a 4-4 split on totals. Encompassing their reputation for home ice is their mark of 3-0 at TD Garden. Metrics wise the Bruins rank ninth in the NHL for goal scoring but 13th for goals against. Of great concern is a penalty killing unit ranked 21st in the league.
Important names on the Ice
To begin with center Patrice Bergeron is off to a great start. Bergeron has six goals with seven assists with a plus five. And then there is left wing David Pastrnak with eight goals. But goaltender Tuukka Rask’s save percentage of .875 has forced Boston to play Jaroslav Halak more. And Halak has responded with a .933 save percentage.
Montreal Canadiens
By contrast Montreal is off to an incredibly impressive start. To show, the Canadiens are 4-1-2 with a 3-3-1 mark on totals. Montreal has posted a 1-0-2 record on the road. Further, just one of their road games went over the total. Starting with a rank of 15th for goal scoring are improved numbers compared to last year. Subsequently the Habs rank a much better 10th for goals against. Carey Price has a save percentage of .904. Concurrently Antti Niemi has won both of his starts.
Stats to Consider
Montreal has struggled with the NHL lines in road games recently. Consider the Canadiens record of just five wins in their last 20 games on road ice. Just one of their last five away games have gone under the total. Balanced against that is Boston’s strong mark as a home team on the board. For example, the Bruins have paid out in 15 of their last 20 home games at TD Garden. Just two of the Bruins last 15 home tilts have gone under the total.
Team vs. Team
Boston has dominated this sportsbook series lately. To illustrate the Bruins have come away with the cash in six consecutive games against the Habs. Just one of the last seven games between these teams have gone over the total. More emphatically at TD Garden Boston has won three in a row against Montreal. Also, all three of those games went under the total.
Canadiens vs. Bruins NHL Playoff Lines Picks
As mentioned earlier Boston has great success with the NHL lines at home and against Montreal. Correspondingly the Canadiens have not been great in road games at all. Home ice is the matchup edge here.
Canadiens vs. Bruins Free NHL Lines Picks
To conclude Boston rates the call at TD Garden
Canadiens vs. Bruins NHL Betting Online Pick: Boston Bruins
Canadiens vs. Bruins NHL Betting Online Score Prediction: Bruins 3, Canadiens 2
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