The Montreal Canadiens (18-18-7) kick off a 3-game road trip on Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils (22-16-3). Puck drop at Prudential Center in Newark is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Canadiens vs. Devils odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Canadiens posted a 4-3 win Monday against the Colorado Avalanche as a heavy underdog (+180) as the Over (6.5) cashed. While the Habs have picked up at least 1 point in 4 of the past 5 games, Montreal is still 1-1-3 during the span. The Over is 5-3 in the past 8 games, and 8-4 across the past 12 contests.
The Devils were blanked 3-0 on the road against the Boston Bruins as the Under (6) connected. New Jersey has managed a 1-2-1 mark in the past 4 games. The Over is 6-4-1 across the past 11 games overall.
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Canadiens at Devils odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last update at 5:56 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Canadiens +180 (bet $100 to win $180) | Devils -225 (bet $225 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Canadiens +1.5 (-140) | Devils -1.5 (+115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Canadiens at Devils projected goalies
Sam Montembeault (9-6-4, 2.89 GAA, .909 SV%) vs. Vitek Vanecek (14-7-2, 3.31 GAA, .882 SV%)
Montembeault is confirmed to start this road game. He allowed just 2 goals on 41 shots in a 2-1 OT loss against the Edmonton Oilers in his most recent appearance Saturday. He has managed a 2-1-1 record, 2.72 GAA and .930 SV% in 4 January starts.
Vanecek coughed up 4 goals on just 20 shots in a 4-3 OT loss against the Tampa Bay Lightning last Thursday. He has allowed 3 or more goals in 5 of the past 7 starts overall. Vanecek has allowed 9 goals on 51 shots in his past 2 road starts.
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Canadiens at Devils picks and predictions
Prediction
Devils 4, Canadiens 3
Moneyline
The Devils (-225) will cost you more than 2 times your potential return, which is quite a bit on the expensive side. While it’s risky to bet such heavy favorites, it’s especially so to risk that type of money on a team which is 1-2-1 in the past 4 games overall.
AVOID, and look to the puck line instead.
Puck line/Against the spread
The CANADIENS +1.5 (-140) are worth a look as an underdog on the puck line, if you just can’t bring yourself to play them straight up. Montreal is 6-1 in the past 7 games as an underdog on the puck line, winning 3 of those contests straight up.
As a favorite, the Devils -1.5 (+115) have covered 3 in a row on the puck line, while going 2-14 in the past 16 games as a favorite on the puck line at home this season.
Over/Under
The OVER 6.5 (-110) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at most.
The Under has cashed in 3 of the past 4 games for the Habs, although the total has gone high in 8 of the past 12 games. The Over is also 5-2 in the past 7 games on the road.
For the Devils, the Under has hit in the past 2 games, but the Over is 5-3 across the past 8 games.
In this series, the Over cashed in the 1st battle on Oct. 24 in Montreal, as the Over (6.5) hit in a 5-2 win by the Devils. The Over has connected in 7 of the past 10 games, including 3 of the past 4 meetings in Newark.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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