Canucks vs Canadiens NHL Line & Handicapping
Struggling Canadian Teams Attempt Head Into Break In Style – Canucks Visit Habs
The Vancouver Canucks will try to avoid a sixth straight loss Thursday night when they head to Montreal to take on a Canadiens team that has had their share of troubles lately as well.
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Vancouver (27-22-3-6) at Montreal (30-21-3-3)
When: 7:30 PM ET, Thursday, February 6, 2014
Where: Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec
Broadcast: RDS, SNET-P, TSN-HABS
Canucks vs. Habs Betting Lines from betonline.com
Vancouver Canucks +1½ -265 +119 Ov 5 +105
Montreal Canadiens -1½ +225 -131 Un 5 -116
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Vancouver has lost 14 of their last 18 games overall while the Canadiens, who have gone just 4-5-1 in their last 10 games overall look on the verge of ending their ugly stretch. Montreal has just one regulation loss in their last five games. Adding intrigue to Thursday night`s clash is the battle between two of Team Canada`s projected starting goaltenders for Sochi – Roberto Luongo hasn`t looked all that good while Carey Price has been much better the last week or so.
There is absolutely no secret as to why the Vancouver Canucks are struggling. The Canucks have been held to two or fewer goals in 12 of those 18 games and lost 10 of them. Henrik Sedin has been held off the score sheet in two games since missing six with an upper-body injury. That makes six games without a point for Hank. Brother Daniel is pointless in seven straight! They’ve each gone 17 games without a goal – not good! David Booth is pointless in seven games, Jannik Hansen hasn`t hit the score sheet in five games and the power play which sits at 13.4% is a dismal 1 for its last 27 and 7 for 74 in its last 23 games!
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Roberto Luongo is struggling but the recent slide isn`t all his fault – Vancouver simply can`t score goals! Lou`s numbers aren`t Olympic-worthy however – he has a 3.52 GAA in his last four starts overall.
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The Montreal Canadiens look as though they have worked out the kinks – they are finally back playing the type of all-around hockey that made them a contender earlier this season. Carey Price is the biggest reason why. He is 2-1-1 with a sparkling 0.98 GAA and .970 save percentage in his last four starts with two shutouts. He is the difference maker that Montreal needs as they head into the Olympic break.
Offensively the Canadiens continue to be just slightly below average – 2.39 goals per game. Max Pacioretty has two goals and two assists in five games, Brian Gionta has three points in four games but nobody else can be considered Hot on this team.
Dave’s FREE NHL Betting Prediction
A few trends to consider:
• VAN are 1-8 in their last 9 road games.
• Under is 9-3-1 in VAN last 13 vs. Atlantic.
• Under is 9-2 in MON last 11 vs. Pacific.
• Under is 16-6-5 in MON last 27 home games.
• MON are 13-5 in their last 18 Thu. games.
• Under is 9-2 in the last 11 meetings in Montreal
The Vancouver Canucks are being Tortarella`d – he has a way of sucking the offense out of any player – just ask Rick Nash and Brad Richards. The Sedins don`t look dangerous at all right now, the special teams is out of sync and the injuries have piled up on Vancouver at just the wrong time. Canucks forwards Mike Santorelli (season-ending shoulder surgery) and Brad Richardson (undisclosed) and defensemen Kevin Bieksa (foot), Christopher Tanev (thumb), Yannick Weber (undisclosed) and Andrew Alberts (head) are out. Defenseman Dan Hamhuis and forward Christopher Higgins missed Tuesday’s game against the Bruins with undisclosed injuries and are questionable against the Canadiens. Yikes!
It`s not good in Canucks land – not good at all!
Pick: Montreal Canadiens -131
