Canadiens vs Ducks Prediction, Preview, Odds and Picks, Mar. 03
Ducks, Canadiens Both Playing Well
The Montreal Canadiens and Anaheim Ducks are both among the worst teams in the NHL. However, both have been somewhat respectable of late.
Anaheim was on a surprising three-game winning streak before falling to the Washington Capitals in overtime on Wednesday. That’s the Ducks’ second three-game winning streak since the end of January; they had none the entire season before that.
Next up is a visit to Montreal, which is 6-4 in its last 10 games. For a team that had won just 39% of their games before that, this little stretch is a positive one.
If you’re making your NHL picks in this one, what’s the best way to go?
Montreal Fighting Through Injuries
You might have seen the NHL news that the Canadiens have been blasted by injuries across their roster. Among the players that are currently inactive for this game against the Ducks are Sean Monahan, Kirby Dach, Arber Xhekaj, Carey Price and Juraj Slafkovsky.
These guys have missed a good chunk of time already, but none of them will be getting back onto the ice here. Couple all of this with the fact that their second-best scorer, Cole Caufield, was placed on injured reserve, and this roster is getting thinner by the second.
If the Canadiens want to emerge victorious, they’ll have to rely upon the healthy playmakers they have left. This includes Nick Suzuki, who has a team-high 47 points and will have to continue shouldering a heavy load on offense.
It could be a tough journey ahead for Montreal, though it has won games with these injuries already. These absences clearly impact the NHL betting lines.
Anaheim Flashes Potential
The Ducks have just 20 wins throughout this entire season but their recent three-game winning streak saw them take down some good teams.
They were able to beat the Washington Capitals, Carolina Hurricanes and a red-hot Chicago Blackhawks team before their loss on Wednesday (in a rematch to Washington).
Those three losses saw them allow just two goals in each contest, with the veteran John Gibson putting together a few solid games in that stretch.
One game in particular that stood out was the matchup with the Hurricanes. Gibson stopped 51 shots en route to a massive upset win on the road. The Ducks were a huge dog in the sportsbook.
When he gets into a rhythm, Anaheim gets much harder to beat. The Ducks still rank dead-last in goals allowed per game but this recent play has shown that it’s possible for them to play at a higher level.
Canadiens vs Ducks Game Injuries
Canadiens vs Ducks Head-to-Head
There’s only been one matchup between these teams this season, with the Ducks winning 5-2.
Canadiens vs Ducks Information
- Game: Canadiens (26-30-4) Ducks (20-34-8)
- Location: Honda Center, Anaheim, CA
- Day/Time: Friday, March 3, 10:00 p.m. ET
- Canadiens vs Ducks Live stream:NHL.TV
Canadiens vs Ducks Betting Lines
Canadiens vs Ducks Picks and Prediction
Anaheim has played well lately and they do get to play on their own ice here but this won’t be an easy matchup for them to win. Those who bet online know that Montreal is decimated with injuries. However, the Canadiens have been a slightly better team up to this point in the year.
It’s going to be a tight game throughout between two teams trying to find some form of consistency up to this point. For sports betting purposes, roll with Anaheim here, its recent play might offer enough momentum to get back into the win column.
Anaehim is listed at -120 in our Vegas lines. So, if you wager $100 on the Ducks, there’s a chance to win $83. The Canadiens are +100 with a chance to win $100 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Ducks a 54.55% chance to win, with the Canadiens at 50.00%.
