The Montreal Canadiens (11-7-5) host the rival Boston Bruins (15-3-5) Tuesday at Bell Centre in a battle of the third- and first-place teams in the Atlantic Division. The puck will drop at 7 p.m. ET. We analyze the Bruins-Canadiens sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.
Bruins at Canadiens: Projected starting goalies
Jaroslav Halak vs. Carey Price
Halak draws his ninth start of the season in place of starter Tuukka Rask. He has a .924 save percentage and a 2.56 goals against average. He made at least 40 saves in two of his last three starts, though he has suffered back-to-back shootout losses.
Price allowed five or six goals in two of his last three starts and is 0-2-1 over the stretch. He is 10-6-3 through 19 starts with a .907 SV% and a 2.89 GAA.
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Bruins at Canadiens: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 10 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Bruins 4, Canadiens 1
Moneyline (ML)
The two clubs are trending in polar opposite directions with the BRUINS (-120) entering Tuesday with three consecutive wins while the Canadiens (+100) have dropped four straight. Both teams have been off since Saturday when the Bruins dropped the Minnesota Wild 5-4 in overtime and the Canadiens fell to the New York Rangers by a 6-5 count.
Montreal is 6-4-2 at the Bell Centre while Boston is 6-3-1 on the road. The Habs won the first meeting this season by a 5-4 count in Boston Nov. 5, leaving the Bruins looking for revenge. Montreal is without LW Jonathan Drouin (wrist) and the Bruins are without C Patrice Bergeron (lower body). The visitors are the deeper team and will come out with the road win.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet for Boston to win in regulation, overtime or a shootout returns a profit of $7.52.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
The BRUINS (-1.5, +220) are worth a small wager with the potential for a great return on your investment. A $10 bet will fetch a profit of $22 should they win by two or more goals against the struggling Price and freefalling Habs. The Canadiens (+1.5, -278) aren’t worthwhile with the potential for just a $3.60 gain.
Boston is 12-11 against the spread overall and 5-5 on the road. Montreal is 13-10 overall but a woeful 4-8 on home ice.
Over/Under (O/U)
Take the UNDER 6.5 (-154). Price has been in awful form, but the rivalry matchup should bring out his best. Halak has been one of the top backups in the NHL and will have some added motivation while facing one of his former teams.
Esten’s NHL betting record: 80-70
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