Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Islanders 4/12/2023-Free Pick, NHL Betting

Free NHL Hockey Prediction: Canadiens vs. Islanders NHL Odds

Looking for Montreal Canadiens Vs. New York Islanders free hockey plays & NHL Odds? NHL betting sees the Canadiens taking on the Islanders on Wednesday April 12th at UBS Arena in New York. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NHL Hockey games all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily NHL hockey predictions like this Canadiens Islanders matchup.

NHL Hockey Handicapping – Canadiens vs. New York

(31-43-6) Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Islanders (41-31-9)
Date: Wednesday April 12th – Canadiens vs. New York
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Venue: UBS Arena, New York
Hockey NHL Moneyline Odds: Canadiens +280 Islanders -360 (Bet Now!)
NHL Hockey Puck Line Odds: Canadiens +1.5 +115 Islanders -1.5 -135
Today’s NHL Betting Total: O/U 6.0

The Canadiens are just playing the clock out and are looking forward to the Draft Lottery and the offseason.

At the other end of the ice, it’s the Islanders who reek of desperation as they vie for one of the final two spots left in the Wild Card picture with just a single game left on their schedule.

Montreal Canadiens

Montreal enters this contest with a 31-43-6 record overall and a 14-23-3 tally on the road this season. They’ve scored 1 or fewer goals in three of their last four games, being shutout twice during that stretch.

The worst the Canadiens can do is 28th as none of the bottom four teams below them have enough games in hand to pass the Habs. When it comes to a draft such as this, you’d rather see your team drop further when they are eliminated from playoff contention.

With Montreal having been mathematically eliminated from the postseason since March 28th, the Habs have helped their case in increasing their lottery odds. They’ve won just once since then, going 1-5 through their past six games.

Offense

With a 26th ranked offense, the Canadiens are averaging 2.76 goals scored per game and have a power play that’s slotted in the 28th slot with a 16.4% success rate. It’s also hard to score when you’re only directing 27.3 shots on net per game, the third-worst in the NHL.

When it comes to scoring leaders, Cole Caufield hasn’t played since January 19th and his 26 goals still leads the team with Captain Nick Suzuki currently in second at 24.

In terms of points, Montreal’s skaters haven’t put up a whole lot with Suzuki leading the team with a respectable 64 but then it’s a steep drop-off. Behind the Captain it’s Kirby Dach up next with just 38 points on the year.

Defense

In their own end of the ice, the Habs have a 29th ranked defense as they’re allowing an average of 3.70 goals against. In six of their past seven match-ups they’ve allowed at least three goals against.

When it comes to their penalty kill, they barely rank ahead of the Vancouver Canucks and find themselves sitting 31st when a man short with a 72.2% kill rate.

A positive from the backend has been the play of Mike Matheson who not only has reached a career-high in points with 34 in just 46 games but is also a +7.

Goaltending

Already confirmed to start this contest is Sam Montembeault who may go back-to-back in their season finale at home on Thursday against Boston. Montembeault has a 15-24-3 record to go with a 3.36 goals against average and a .904 save percentage. His most recent start saw him allow 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 7-1 defeat this past Saturday.

New York Islanders

The Islanders hit the ice with a 41-31-9 record on the year and a 24-13-3 tally at UBS Arena this season.

With just two wins over their past five tries, they haven’t done themselves many favours in their quest to clinch one of the final two playoff spots in the East. They’re coming off a 5-2 loss to the mathematically eliminated Washington Capitals on Monday and are down to their final game of the regular-season.

Offense

The Islanders attempted to upgrade their offense with the addition of Bo Horvat from the Vancouver Canucks but the forward has added just 7 goals to his total in nearly 30 games since joining New York. You could argue that the injury to Matt Barzal hurt Horvat’s production as he’s scored just 4 times in the 22 games since Barzal went down.

New York has a 23rd ranked offense which is putting up 2.94 goals scored but are sporting an awful power play which has an output of just 15.5%, ranking second-last in the league.

Horvat technically leads the team with 38 goals split between the Canucks and the Islanders but as previously mentioned, he has just 7 with New York. In terms of most goals scored with the Isles, that’d be All-Star Brock Nelson with 34 tucks on the season and he also leads the team with 73 points.

Defense

While they haven’t gotten the scoring that they’d like, the defense has been stout this season.

They’re tied for 5th this season while allowing an average of 2.65 goals against. They have a top ten 10 penalty kill that is operating at an 82.1% kill rate this year.

When it comes defense, they’ve played even better at home this year.

Their goals against average drops to 2.25, ranking second in the league, and their penalty kill ranks first on home ice with a 89.1% success rate.

Goaltending

While it’s currently unconfirmed as to who will get the nod, Ilya Sorokin has taken to the crease in each of the past seven games. While it’s not out of the realm of possibility they go with Semyon Varlamov, you would have to think that in the biggest game of the season they’d go with their best player, right?

Sorokin ranks inside the top ten in the league in multiple categories that include his 30-22-7 record, a 2.35 goals against average, a .925 save percentage and a league-best 6 shutouts.

Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Islanders NHL Betting Trends:

• Under is 4-0 in Canadiens last 4 Wednesday games.
• Under is 3-1-1 in Canadiens last 5 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
• Under is 5-2-1 in Islanders last 8 overall.
• Under is 10-4-2 in Islanders last 16 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Under is 5-2-1 in Islanders last 8 vs. Eastern Conference.

Free Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Islanders NHL Prediction

This is a must-win for New York and they’re 1-1 against the Habs this season. The Isles lone victory versus Montreal coming on home ice in the form of a 2-1 victory.

With both teams struggling to score this season and the Islanders penchant for being stingy on home ice, I’m very comfortable with the under.

4* Free Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Islanders NHL Betting Pick: Under 6.0

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