Montreal Canadiens vs. Pittsburgh Penguins NHL Betting Preview and Odds (August 1)

A clear difference is seen in the records of Pittsburgh and Montreal.  Penguin backers will pay full retail for one of the NHL’s top teams.  Canadiens supporters believe they have a goaltender that can steal games.  Thus, the stark hockey betting divide.  Montreal is in this post-COVID-19 tournament as the last entry.  Under normal circumstances, the Canadiens would be nowhere near postseason.  While the Penguins are one of the most respected franchises in any sport.  Pittsburgh also boasts one of the NHL’s biggest stars in Sidney Crosby.  Many handicappers see this series more even than the price.

Montreal Canadiens vs. Pittsburgh Penguins CashBet Wagering Analysis

On this occasion, we get a Saturday night prime time NBC broadcast.  Hockey’s online sportsbook return will be cause for celebration.  Stanley Cup Playoff action draws a major increase in handle.  Even non-hockey fans bet the playoffs.  Further, the games draw TV ratings that dwarf the regular season.  Bettors know that the NHL Playoffs offer a unique characteristic.  Unlike the other sports, top seeds can and often do go down.  Which is what the enhanced attention from bettors and observers is all about.  Last year’s Stanley Cup champion Blues went from last place to champion in five months.

Canadiens Lack of Depth Caused Regular Season Fall 

Montreal is the 12^th and final seed in the Eastern Conference.  Overall, the Canadiens have a betting on hockey record of 31-31-9.  NHL metrics have Montreal 19^th for goals, 22^nd for power play, 19^th for goals against, and 19^th for penalty kill.  Montreal coach Claude Julien won a Stanley Cup behind the bench in Boston.  Although he has tried to open things up, he prefers tight checking.  Against the skilled Penguins, he may revert back to his old ways.

Goaltender Carey Price is expected to carry the Canadiens.  Correlate his 2019-20 mark of 27-25-6 with a 2.79 goals-against average.  Price has a save percentage of .909 with four shutouts.  Fashion that Price has won the Vezina, Jennings, and Hart Memorial Trophy awards.

Pittsburgh Trusted and Verified with Betting Public

Pittsburgh has an NHL betting record of 40-23-6.  Fifth in the Eastern Conference is the Penguins seed.  Pittsburgh was only three-points out of an opening-round bye.  In sum, they are 10^th for goals, 16^th for power play, 12^th for goals against, and 10^th for penalty kill.  Mike Sullivan is one of the top coaches in the NHL.  Sullivan has won two Stanley Cups behind the Penguins bench.  Following that is a team that is always in Stanley Cup contender status.

Since 2005 C Sidney Crosby has been a superstar form the Penguins.  He was top overall pick of that year’s NHL Draft.  Crosby saved a Penguins franchise that was bankrupt and close to moving.  He has 462 career goals and is a three-time Stanley Cup champion.

Fellow C Evgeni Malkin leads the Penguins in scoring.  To illustrate Malkin has 25 goals with 49 assists on the season.

Goaltenders Tristian Jarry and Matt Murray split time this season.  Jarry had the superior save percentage at .921.  Of great concern is Murray’s .899 stop rate.

Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens Head to Head with Spread

Overall Pittsburgh is 12-8 as a favorite against the Canadiens.  While the Pens are 6-2-3 over the total when favored vs. Montreal.  In the same way, Montreal is 4-11 in their last 15 meetings with the Penguins.  And 4-5-1 under the total against Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Montreal Canadiens CashBet NHL Pick

In this situation, the Canadiens and Price are getting plenty of Betting NHL hype.  For all that the Penguins are vastly deeper and better in every way.

Penguins vs. Canadiens CashBet Best Bet:  Pittsburgh Penguins