NHL betting preview (Dec. 23): Canadiens vs. Blue Jackets odds
Join Daily Faceoff’s Andy MacNeil as he handicaps Monday’s matchup between the Montreal Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets.
Canadiens vs. Blue Jackets Odds
- Montreal Canadiens Moneyline: +110
- Columbus Blue Jackets Moneyline: -130
- Puck Line: Canadiens +1.5 (-225), Blue Jackets -1.5 (+180)
- Game Total: 6 (Over -105, Under -115)
Game odds via Sports Interaction.
Handicapping the Canadiens (14-19 SU, 17-16 ATS, 17-13-3 O/U)
The Canadiens are on a roll with three straight wins—their first streak like this all season—and they have a decent shot at making it four on Monday, having won their last seven in a row against the Blue Jackets.
Samuel Montembeault has started the last nine games for Montreal, including back-to-back outings against the Red Wings on Friday and Saturday. If head coach Martin St. Louis sticks with him, this will be Montembeault’s third game in four days. Fortunately, the Canadiens get a four-day break after this one, which they’ll need with nine of their next 11 games on the road. Backup Cayden Primeau has struggled, allowing eight goals on the last 36 shots he’s faced in his past two outings and has only won two of his seven starts this season. Primeau hasn’t started a game since Dec. 1.
Patrik Laine has been a game-changer for the Canadiens, with eight power-play goals and one assist in nine games. He has single-handedly elevated Montreal’s offense, helping the team win six of nine games since his debut. Laine has instantly become the team leader in shot attempts, shots on goal, expected goals, and goals per game—and it’s not even close.
Cole Caufield is just one point behind Laine, but it’s clear Laine has stolen some of Caufield’s thunder, as Caufield has managed just one goal since Laine’s arrival. Captain Nick Suzuki and rookie defenseman Lane Hutson are leading the team with 10 points each in the last nine games.
Handicapping the Blue Jackets (13-21 SU, 18-16 ATS, 22-11-1 O/U)
Columbus snapped a five-game losing streak with a stellar performance from Elvis Merzlikins in their win against the Devils on Thursday, but they quickly fell back into the loss column with an overtime defeat to the Flyers on Saturday. The Blue Jackets have now lost nine of their last 11 games.
They’ve been better at home than on the road, with nine wins in 17 games at Nationwide Arena this season, but their home form has been slipping. Columbus has dropped four of its last six home games, including three straight losses. The margins have been tight, with five of their last eight home games going to overtime or a shootout.
Defensively, the Blue Jackets rank among the league’s worst. According to Evolving Hockey, only one team has allowed more goals per 60 minutes than Columbus. Earlier this season, they ranked 22nd in shot attempts against and 27th in expected goals against, but over the past month, they’ve slipped to 30th in both categories. In 34 games, they’ve allowed four or more goals 20 times.
Offensively, Columbus can still be dangerous, showing flashes of playing like a top 10 team. While players like Kirill Marchenko, Zach Werenski, and Sean Monahan are having strong seasons, no one has been truly dominant for the Blue Jackets. Most nights, three, or even four goals, isn’t enough for the Blue Jackets to overcome their defensive issues.
Best bets for Canadiens vs. Blue Jackets
- Patrik Laine Over 2.5 Shots On Goal (-145) at Sports Interaction
- Patrik Laine Anytime Goal (+200) at Sports Interaction
Laine has posted three or more shots on goal in each of his last four games and has done so in six of his nine outings this season. The 26-year-old ranks sixth in the league in shot attempts since his debut, and with Columbus allowing the second-most shot attempts over the past month, he should find plenty of chances to get pucks on net. On top of that, the Blue Jackets have the league’s sixth-worst penalty kill, giving Laine an opportunity to test it with his lethal one-timer. Who knows—maybe he’ll even net an even-strength goal for a change.
- Juraj Slafkovsky Anytime Goal (+375) at Sports Interaction
The former No. 1 overall pick, Juraj Slafkovsky, finally got the monkey off his back with two goals on seven shots in his last three games, matching his total from his first 27 games of the season. As a result, some sportsbooks have shortened his anytime goal odds to as low as +280, but Sports Interaction still offers more competitive pricing. The Canadiens have scored four or more goals in five of their last six games against the Blue Jackets, and +375 is a generous price for a player recently promoted to the top line alongside Suzuki and Caufield, as well as the team’s top power-play unit.