NHL

NHL Betting Guide: Monday 11/29/21

Nick Vazquez  —  @nickvaz Nov 29th, 2021

We've got four games on Monday, let's try to start of the week with some winning bets.

Please note that lines are subject to change throughout the day after this article is published. Please check here to make sure you're seeing the most updated information.

Vancouver Canucks vs Montreal Canadiens

Montreal moneyline (-137) One-Star Rating Out of 5
Montreal -1.5 (+198) One-Star Rating Out of 5

This is a matchup between two Canadian teams that thought they were strong contenders based on a fluke playoff run that occurred in the past two years. It's almost poetic that these teams are meeting at this time. The Montreal Canadiens just made sweeping organizational changes in their front office, while many have been calling for that with the Vancouver Canucks for the last few weeks as the team continues to struggle.

There are some reasons to like Montreal in this game. They were able to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-3 on Saturday for a rare road win. They are a more respectable 4-6-1 at home compared to 2-9-1 on the road.

Montreal is 18th in Corsi for percentage this season, better than you might expect given their record. They also have a PDO of 96.8, and if we expect that to regress back towards 100 as it does for most NHL teams, they should be getting more puck luck on both ends of the ice.

It's a great time to play Vancouver for Montreal. The Canucks just lost their fourth game in a row to the Boston Bruins on Sunday, and now have to cross the border for a back-to-back against Montreal. Vancouver's penalty kill is the worst in the league, nearly six percentage points behind the lowly Arizona Coyotes. This could be a great time for the Canadiens power play to get going.

This sets up nicely for Montreal to win their first game since Marc Bergevin was relieved of his duties on Saturday, and some players may have extra motivation with new front office pieces in control now. Our model likes them a -137 favorites, and if you want a little more return on your bet, the puck line at +198 is acceptable too.