Canadiens vs Penguins Prediction NHL Picks 2/22/24

Pittsburgh Penguins (24-21-8) vs Montreal Canadiens (22-25-8)

Game Info: Thursday, February 22, 2024 at 7:00 pm (PPG Paints Arena)

Betting Odds: Pittsburgh Penguins -189 / Montreal Canadiens +150 --- Over/Under: 6.5

The Montreal Canadiens are riding a 3-game losing streak. The Pittsburgh Penguins need a win after losing 5 of their last 6 games. Let’s preview this game and give out a Montreal Canadiens vs Pittsburgh Penguins prediction.

Montreal Canadiens Betting Preview

The Montreal Canadiens recently lost to the Rangers, Capitals, and Sabres. The Montreal Canadiens are averaging 2.78 goals per game and are scoring on 20.1 percent of their power play opportunities. Nick Suzuki leads Montreal with 20 goals, Mike Matheson has 34 assists and Cole Caufield has 208 shots on goal. Defensively, the Montreal Canadiens are allowing 3.53 goals per game and are killing 74 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Jake Allen has given up 67 goals on 634 shots faced, and Sam Montembeault has allowed 83 goals on 854 shots.

Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Preview

The Pittsburgh Penguins are coming off losses to the Kings and Islanders. The Pittsburgh Penguins are averaging 2.89 goals per game and are scoring on 13.5 percent of their power play opportunities. Sidney Crosby leads Pittsburgh with 31 goals, Erik Karlsson has 32 assists, and Jake Guentzel has 185 shots on goal. Defensively, the Pittsburgh Penguins are allowing 2.69 goals per game and are killing 82.1 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Tristan Jarry has allowed 83 goals on 963 shots faced, and Alex Nedelijkovic has given up 48 goals on 565 shots.

Pittsburgh Penguins Player Prop Facts

• Jake Guentzel has scored at least one goal in each of the Penguins' last three games against the Canadiens.
• Jake Guentzel has recorded at least one point in each of his last 13 Thursday appearances.
• Evgeni Malkin has recorded an assist in each of the Penguins' last six games as favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
• Marcus Pettersson ranks T1st in the Metropolitan Division for Plus/Minus (+20) this season.

Montreal Canadiens Player Prop Facts

• Juraj Slafkovsky has scored at least one goal in three of the Canadiens' last four games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
• Juraj Slafkovsky has recorded at least one point in each of the Canadiens' last seven games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
• Mike Matheson has recorded at least one assist in seven of the Canadiens' last eight games as underdogs.
• Nick Suzuki ranks 1st in the league for shootout goals (4) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Pittsburgh Penguins rank 30th in the league in power play percentage this season (13.48%).
• The Pittsburgh Penguins rank 4th in the league for goals against per game this season (2.68).
• The Montreal Canadiens rank 31st in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (73.85%).
• The Montreal Canadiens rank 27th in the league for goals per game this season (2.77).

Montreal Canadiens vs Pittsburgh Penguins prediction

The Pittsburgh Penguins are getting the benefit of the doubt because they're the better team on paper, and they're at home. However, the Penguins have been a mess these last couple of weeks and excuse me if I'm not thrilled to lay big juice with them regardless of opponent. Also, the Habs are 11-10-5 this season on the road, so you can argue they've been more competitive away from home. Furthermore, four of the last five meetings between the Canadiens and Penguins have gone into overtime, so history suggests this will be a close game. We're getting 1.5 times our money. Give me the Canadiens and the more favorable price in a battle of two cold teams.

The pick in this article is the opinion of the writer, not a PickDawgz site consensus.