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The Montreal Canadiens (13-11-6) visit the Pittsburgh Penguins (17-9-4) Tuesday at PPG Paints Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for shortly after 7 p.m. ET. We analyze the Canadiens-Penguins sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.
Canadiens at Penguins: Projected starting goalies
Carey Price vs. Matt Murray
Price has emerged from a poor stretch in which he allowed at least three goals in five of six starts. He has stopped 50 of 53 shots faced in picking up back-to-back wins in his last two outings. He has a .902 save percentage and 3.04 goals against average for the year.
Murray is 10-5-4 on the year with a .897 SV% and 2.85 GAA, but he has just one win in his last eight decisions. He stopped 25 of 28 shots faced against the Detroit Red Wings Saturday.
Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.
Canadiens at Penguins: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated 9:45 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Penguins 2, Canadiens 1
Moneyline (ML)
The Canadiens are coming off a 2-1 win over the New York Rangers Friday, but they’re just 2-6-2 across their last 10 games. The Penguins are 6-2-2 across their last 10 outings and have won three straight, including the 5-3 victory over the Red Wings. The previous two wins were shutouts with backup Tristan Jarry in the net.
The PENGUINS (-167) are the smart play with a 12-3-2 home record and plus-22 goal differential on the year. They’ve been largely unaffected by the month-long absence of C Sidney Crosby (core). The Canadiens (+137) are without C Jesperi Kotkaniemi (concussion) and LW Jonathan Drouin (wrist) and depth is a much more significant issue for them.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Penguins to win outright in regulation, overtime or a shootout returns a profit of $6.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
Back the CANADIENS (+1.5, -182) to keep this one close without having to face Crosby. Price is back to proper form and Pittsburgh won’t be able to pull away without a late, empty-net goal.
Montreal is 15-15 against the spread overall but 9-4 on the road. The Pens are 15-15 ATS overall and just 8-9 at home. The Habs will need to stay within one goal in a loss or win outright for a $10 bet to fetch a profit of $5.50.
Over/Under (O/U)
Take the UNDER 6.5 (-139). The Penguins have been forced to adapt to a slower, more defensive style without Crosby, while the Canadiens are without two of their top offensive players. Both teams are 6-4 against the Over/Under across their last 10 games, but this is a marquee goalie battle.
Esten’s NHL betting record: 111-93
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