NHL betting preview (Jan. 23): Canadiens vs. Red Wings odds
Join Daily Faceoff’s Andy MacNeil as he handicaps Thursday’s Atlantic Division matchup between the Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings.
Canadiens vs. Red Wings Odds
| Montreal Canadiens Moneyline | +105 |
| Detroit Red Wings Moneyline | -125 |
| Puck Line | Canadiens +1.5 (-235), Red Wings -1.5 (+190) |
| Game Total | 6 Goals (over -105, Under -115) |
Handicapping the Canadiens (24-23 SU, 29-18 ATS, 23-20-4 O/U)
The red-hot Montreal Canadiens will look to inch closer to the playoffs on Thursday when they visit the Detroit Red Wings. The Canadiens have gone 13-3-1 since Dec. 17 and are tied for the second and final Wild Card spot with the Ottawa Senators, who have an identical record but own the tiebreaker.
No team has scored more even-strength goals than Montreal since Dec. 17, and only four teams have generated more shots and expected goals per 60 minutes, according to Evolving Hockey. The Canadiens rank 13th in even-strength expected goals percentage and sixth in shots during this run.
This stretch has produced many great stories, but none has generated more buzz than the rookies. Goaltender Jakub Dobes has won all five of his starts, posting a 1.55 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage with one shutout. Meanwhile, Lane Hutson leads all rookies with 39 points in 47 games, including one goal and nine assists during his current nine-game point streak.
Montreal is just 4-6 straight-up versus Detroit in the past 10 meetings, but the Canadiens defeated the Red Wings in back-to-back games about a month ago. Montreal won 4-3 in Detroit on Dec. 20, then earned a 5-1 win at home on Dec. 21.
Handicapping the Red Wings (21-26 SU, 28-19 ATS, 23-23-3 O/U)
Detroit is looking to climb back into the thick of the Eastern Conference Wild Card race after dropping its last three games and four of its last five overall. The Red Wings had won seven games in a row under new head coach Todd McLellan but came back down to earth on their recent road trip.
The Red Wings earned an impressive 5-2 win against the defending Stanley Cup champions in Florida, but they’ve scored just one goal in each of their last three games. Their power play has been on fire, ranking first in the NHL under McLellan with a 41.9 percent success rate. However, the team ranks 25th in even-strength goals per 60 minutes.
Defensively, the Red Wings still look like a bottom-10 team under their new coach. According to Evolving Hockey, Detroit ranks 31st in shot attempts against and 25th in expected goals against since McLellan took over behind the bench. They also have the third-worst penalty kill (65.4 percent).
Cam Talbot has hurt the team, ranking dead last in goals saved above expected since the holiday break. He also ranks among the bottom-10 goaltenders in save percentage since the coaching change.
Best bet for Canadiens vs. Red Wings
- Juraj Slafkovsky Over 0.5 Points (+110) at Sports Interaction
While players like Hutson, Dobes, and Cole Caufield have been generating plenty of buzz, Juraj Slafkovsky has somewhat flown under the radar. The former No. 1 overall pick had a rough start to the campaign but has turned it around with 12 points in his last 20 games. Slafkovsky needs to shoot the puck more, but he’s in a great position to contribute offensively most nights as he skates alongside Caufield and captain Nick Suzuki on the top forward line and holds a spot on the top power play.