NHL betting preview (March 20): Canadiens vs. Islanders odds
Join Daily Faceoff’s Andy MacNeil as he handicaps Thursday’s matchup between the Montreal Canadiens and New York Islanders.
Canadiens vs. Islanders Odds
- Montreal Canadiens Moneyline: +110
- New York Islanders Moneyline: -130
- Puck Line: Canadiens +1.5 (-235), Islanders -1.5 (+190)
- Game Total: 5.5 (Over -120, Under +100)
Game odds via Sports Interaction.
Handicapping the Canadiens (33-34 SU, 39-28 ATS, 33-29-5 O/U)
Montreal appeared to be slipping out of the race after losing seven of eight games between Jan. 23 and Feb. 9, but with eight wins in their last 11, the Canadiens are right back in contention.
They now hold the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference and will look for their third straight win Thursday in New York to keep the Islanders at bay. Montreal leads the Rangers by one point and the Blue Jackets, Red Wings, and Islanders by three.
The Canadiens’ offense has been clicking, scoring four or more goals in eight of 11 games since the NHL returned to play on Feb. 22. Five players have been producing at a point-per-game pace or better: Nick Suzuki (6-12–18), Cole Caufield (7-5–12), Lane Hutson (2-11–12), and Juraj Slafkovsky (6-5–11). Patrik Laine has also contributed nine points (4-5–9) in nine games.
Defensively, Montreal has been just as strong, allowing three or fewer goals in 10 of those games, largely due to the stellar play of goaltender Samuel Montembeault. Since Feb. 22, Montembeault leads the league in goals saved above expected (+12.08), per Evolving Hockey, while posting a .922 save percentage and a 2.09 goals against average.
Handicapping the Islanders (31-36 SU, 35-32 ATS, 32-32-3 O/U)
New York opens a four-game homestand Thursday, looking to gain ground in the Eastern Conference wild-card race. Like the Canadiens, the Islanders are aiming for their third straight win, but they’ve managed just six victories in their last 15 games.
Since Feb. 1, the Islanders rank eighth in shot share but just 19th in expected goals percentage at even strength, per Evolving Hockey, largely due to poor defensive metrics. They sit 24th in both shot attempts and expected goals against per 60 minutes—concerning numbers given their offensive struggles. New York has scored four or more goals just four times in its last 18 games.
The Islanders rank 25th in goals per 60 minutes (all situations) since the start of February and 26th in goals against per 60 minutes, leading to the league’s seventh-worst goal share in that span. By comparison, Montreal ranks eighth in goals per 60, 11th in goals against, and has posted the 11th-best goal share over the last six weeks.
Injuries have played a major role, with forward Mathew Barzal and goaltender Semyon Varlamov both unlikely to return this season. New York is also without defensemen Alexander Romanov (illness) and Adam Boqvist (upper body).
Best bets for Canadiens vs. Islanders
- 3-Way result: Regular time – Tie (+310) at Sports Interaction
With so much on the line for both teams Thursday, this matchup shapes up to be a tight one. Seven of the last 10 meetings between the Canadiens and Islanders have been decided by one goal, with five going to overtime—including the last three straight. This marks the third and final meeting of the season, with New York taking the first game 4-3 in a shootout and Montreal winning the second 2-1 in overtime.