Carolina Hurricanes vs Montreal Canadiens Prediction 3-7-24 Picks

The Montreal Canadiens will play the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. Let’s take a look at the Canadiens preview, Hurricanes preview, betting matchup, and the Canadiens vs Hurricanes prediction.

Canadiens Preview

The Montreal Canadiens are 24-28-10 this season after they defeated the Predators in overtime by a score of 4-3 in their last game. Montreal trailed 2-0 in the second period, but they were able to come back to force overtime and pick up the win in the extra frame. The Canadiens out shot Nashville by a total of 30-28 and went 0-2 on the power play in the game. Montreal had lost seven of their previous eight games, allowing at least four goals in six of them. The Canadiens are scoring 2.79 goals per game and they are allowing 3.48 goals against per game, while going 19.1% on the power play and 74.4% on the penalty kill. Nick Suzuki has led Montreal with 25 goals, 36 assists, and 145 shots on goal. The projected starting goalie for Montreal is Sam Montembeault, who is 13-10-5 this year with a 3.15 goals against average and a .904 save percentage. 

Hurricanes Preview

The Carolina Hurricanes are 36-19-6 this year after they lost to Winnipeg by a score of 5-3 in their last game. Carolina led 3-0 in the third period, but they allowed five unanswered goals in the third for the loss. The Hurricanes out shot Winnipeg by a total of 35-32 and went 1-4 on the power play in the game. Carolina defeated the Blue Jackets by a score of 4-2 and the Wild by a score of 3-2 in the two games prior to Winnipeg. The Hurricanes are scoring 3.28 goals per game and they are allowing 2.75 goals against per game, while going 27% on the power play and 84.1% on the penalty kill. Sebastian Aho has led Carolina with 24 goals, 40 assists, and 166 shots on goal. The projected starting goalie for Carolina is Pyotr Kochetkov, who is 16-11-3 this year with a 2.41 goals against average and a .910 save percentage. 

Carolina Hurricanes Team Facts

• The Hurricanes have won each of their last 10 games against the Canadiens at PNC Arena.
• The Hurricanes have covered the puck line in seven of their last eight games as favorites against the Canadiens.
• The Hurricanes have won the third period in each of their last 10 home games against the Canadiens.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Hurricanes’ last five home games against the Canadiens.

Montreal Canadiens Team Facts

• The Canadiens have lost each of their last 10 night games at PNC Arena.
• The Canadiens have covered the puck line in 10 of their last 11 games after coming off overtime.
• The favorites have won the third period in each of the Canadiens’ last 10 games at PNC Arena.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Canadiens’ last five night games at PNC Arena.

Carolina Hurricanes Player Prop Facts

• Sebastian Aho has scored a goal in each of the Hurricanes’ last five games at PNC Arena.
• Andrei Svechnikov has recorded at least one assist in each of the Hurricanes’ last four games at PNC Arena.
• Andrei Svechnikov has recorded at least one point in eight of his last nine appearances against Atlantic Division opponents at PNC Arena.
• Sebastian Aho has scored the first goal in each of the Hurricanes’ last three games against Eastern Conference opponents at PNC Arena.
• Jesper Fast has recorded two points against the Canadiens this season – equal-most against any opponent.

Montreal Canadiens Player Prop Facts

• Nick Suzuki has scored at least one goal in four of the Canadiens’ last five games as underdogs.
• Mike Matheson has recorded at least one assist in six of the Canadiens’ last seven games as underdogs against Metropolitan Division opponents.
• Mike Matheson has recorded at least one point in each of the Canadiens’ last seven games as underdogs against Metropolitan Division opponents.
• Cole Caufield ranks 1st in the Eastern Conference for shootout goals (5) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Carolina Hurricanes rank 7th in the league for goals against per game this season (2.75).
• The Carolina Hurricanes rank 1st in the league for shots against per game this season (25.5).
• The Montreal Canadiens rank 26th in the league for goals against per game this season (3.48).
• The Montreal Canadiens rank 32nd in the league in short handed goals allowed this season (11).

Canadiens vs Hurricanes Betting Prediction

Montreal was able to pick up a nice overtime win against Nashville in their last game, but they have played very poorly over the last few weeks. The Canadiens have lost nine of their last 12 games and they are allowing 3.48 goals against per game this year. Carolina has won two of their last three games and they are 19-8-4 at home, while Montreal is 12-12-7 on the road. The Hurricanes have allowed two regulation goals or fewer in eight of their last 12 games and I think they are going to shut down the Montreal offense in this game. Take the under here.