Montreal Canadiens vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction, Preview, and Odds

Montreal Canadiens are on the road as they travel to Nationwide Arena on Thursday evening. Montreal is sixth in the Metropolitan Division (8-7-1, 17 points) and are coming off a 5- 1 home loss against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday. Columbus is last in Metropolitan division (5-9-0, 11 points). They beat the Philadelphia Flyers 5 to 4 in overtime on Monday. This will be the first of three games as the other two games are played a week later.

Montreal Canadiens are 21st in the NHL with 48 goals this season. They have six players currently on the injury report. Two of them are questionable for this upcoming game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Jake Allen is expected to start for the Blue Jacket's. He has a 5-6-0 record with 3.29 goals allowed per game and a .901 save percentage.

Columbus Blue Jackets are 25th in the NHL with 43 goals this season. They have seven players on the injury report. Montreal Canadiens are the third-most goals conceded with 65. The Canadiens have a slightly less average 9.4 shooting percentage than the league average. Elvis Merzlikins has struggled in goal for the Blue Jacket this year with a .864 save percentage and 4.74 goals allowed per game.

Columbus Blue Jackets are going to play Montreal Canadiens. Montreal has lost their previous five games against Columbus. Johnny Gaudreau has four points in his last three games. Montreal have lost all their last eight road games, including 1-7 in their recent last five.

Montreal is scoring 3.7 goals per game in their last three games, while Columbus is averaging 4.3 goals in that period. The Canadiens are the 12th-most goals-per-game team in the NHL, whereas the Blue Jackets are worst at 4:33. Jake Allen and Elvis Merzlikins have struggled in goal this season.

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