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Montreal Canadiens vs Columbus Blue Jackets November 16th 2024
Making on a bet on this NHL game featuring the Blue Jackets versus the Canadiens? The puck drops at 7:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on ESPN+. The game will be played at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC. The over/under for this Eastern conference contest is set at 6.5 goals, with the Canadiens being favored by -1.5 goals at home against the Blue Jackets.
Columbus vs. Montreal Key Information
- Teams: Blue Jackets at Canadiens
- Where: Bell Centre Montreal
- Date: Saturday, November 16th
- Betting Odds MON -139 | CBJ +117 O/U 6.5
The Blue Jackets Can Win If…
Columbus fell to 6-8-2 after a 7-2 loss to the Capitals. The Blue Jackets’ defense struggled from the start, giving up five goals in the first period.
As underdogs on the puck line, Columbus failed to cover. The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, and the combined 9 goals easily surpassed that mark.
Columbus took 36 shots on goal but only managed to score twice in their 7-2 loss to Washington. Damon Severson netted his 4th goal of the season, while Kevin Labanc added his 2nd. The Blue Jackets were held scoreless in the first period before Severson got them on the board 49 seconds into the second.
Columbus recorded 13 giveaways and went without a power play goal. Adam Fantilli picked up his 4th assist on Severson’s goal, and Sean Monahan now has 5 assists after helping on Labanc’s second-period goal.
Defensively, the Blue Jackets had a rough outing, allowing 7 goals on 22 shots from the Capitals. Goalie Daniil Tarasov made 15 saves but finished with a 68.2% save percentage. Columbus also struggled early, giving up 5 goals in the first period, including the opener just 56 seconds into the game. They allowed another goal in the second and one more in the third.
- The Blue Jackets have gone 1-2 over their last three regular season games. This includes going 1-2 vs. the puck line along with an over-under mark of 2-1.
- Through their last ten regular season contests, Columbus has a record of 3-7. The team’s record vs the puck line was just 4-6, in addition to an over-under mark of 7-3.
The Canadiens Can Win If…
Montreal dropped to 5-10-2 this season after a 3-1 loss to the Penguins. The Canadiens were underdogs on the puck line, and the total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, but the teams combined for just 4.
Montreal fell behind 2-0 before Christian Dvorak scored at 14:28 in the third period. The Penguins added an empty-net goal to seal the win.
Christian Dvorak scored his first goal of the season for the Canadiens, who took 26 shots on goal. Juraj Slafkovsky picked up his 7th assist, while Emil Heineman notched his first assist of the year.
Montreal was held scoreless through two periods before Dvorak found the net 5:32 into the 3rd. The Canadiens struggled with giveaways, tallying 20 in the game.
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The Canadiens’ defense gave up the first two goals of the game, with the first coming at 15:57 in the first period and the second at 18:40 in the second. They also allowed a late empty-netter, leading to a 3-1 loss. Goalie Sam Montembeault made 21 saves with a 91.3% save percentage, and the defense had 4 takeaways and 28 hits.
- Through their last three regular season contests, Montreal has a record of 1-2. In these matchups, they ended with an puck line record of 1-2 and an over-under mark of 1-2.
- Montreal has put together a record of 3-7 in their last ten games (regular season). Against the spread, Montreal went 4-6 in these games and finished with an over-under mark of 6-4.
The Lean
If you’re looking for a moneyline pick, my choice is the Canadiens to take down the Blue Jackets at home. With the moneyline currently at -139, I’m placing my bet on the Canadiens straight-up.
My recommended pick for the puck line is to take the Blue Jackets to cover. Even if the Canadiens win straight-up, this one should be close throughout and the Blue Jackets should cover the puck line.
When considering the over/under line, which is currently at 6.5 goals, we believe that this game will go over that threshold, and we recommend wagering on the over.
