Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USA – Photo by Icon sport
Utah Hockey Club vs Montreal Canadiens: Both teams are coming off a loss
The Montreal Canadiens are hosting the Utah Hockey Club today at Bell Centre.
Utah is struggling lately
The Utah Hockey Club are 12th in the Western Conference standings with an 8-10-3 record, including 4-6-2 on the road. They have lost 4 of the last 5 games and are coming off a 3-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Hockey Club is 22nd in the league scoring 2.71 and allowing 3.19 goals per game. Clayton Keller leads the team with 19 points so far in the season.
Another disappointing season for the Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a 7-11-2 record, including 5-5-1 at home. The Canadiens have won 3 of the last 5 games and are coming off a 6-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. Montreal is 19th in the league scoring 2.80 goals per game and is ranked second to last allowing 3.80. Nick Suzuki leads the team with 19 points so far in the season.
Betting Trends
The Canadiens are 3-8 SU in their last 11 games overall, 3-6 SU in their last 9 home games, and 1-4 SU in their last 5 games against teams from the Western Conference. Montreal has played under the total goal line in 6 of their last 9 games overall, 10 of their last 13 games played in November, and has gone over in 5 of their last 6 games played on Monday. The Hockey Club are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games overall, and 2-8 SU in their last 10 games on the road. Utah has played under the total goal line in 6 of their last 8 games against teams from the Eastern Conference and 5 of their last 6 games against teams from the Atlantic Division.
Prediction and Conclusion
The Utah Hockey Club has a tough season relocating from Arizona but not even as bad as the Canadiens. Montreal has dropped to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings and will need to pick up their form in order to go higher. They are coming off a solid week winning three games and have every reason to be optimistic about this game. Utah is on a road trip and has lost 7 of the last 10 games. Montreal needs to win games like this, and no matter how difficult this season is for them, we go with the Canadiens to win this one.
