An all-Canadian clash highlights Thursday’s NHL schedule as the Montreal Canadiens visit Calgary as +120 underdogs on the NHL odds at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
The Canadiens’ recent struggles continued in the opening date of their current three-game swing through Western Canada. Montreal was dominated in a 6-2 loss in Edmonton as a +130 underdog on Tuesday, and has now fallen to defeat in four of six contests going into Thursday night’s game at Scotiabank Saddledome.
Montreal has struggled to contain opposing shooters of late. The Canadiens have surrendered an average of 4.5 goals per game in eight outings since posting a 3-0 win in Boston as +155 underdogs on Oct. 30, and now rank 26th in the NHL in goals allowed this season.
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The Flames will be hoping Montreal’s defensive woes continue as they return home from a three-game West Coast road trip pegged as -145 favourites. Calgary mustered just four total goals while dropping two of three in California, and has been streaky on home ice, surrendering four or more goals on four occasions while amassing a 4-2-1 record.
Calgary has also dropped two straight to the Canadiens, capped by a 3-2 loss at the Bell Centre on Oct. 23, and is 1-2-1 in four home meetings with Montreal since 2013, according to OddsShark NHL Database.
Elsewhere on the Thursday NHL odds, the Ottawa Senators open a three-game homestand by taking on the Detroit Red Wings as -115 chalk. The Vancouver Canucks try to halt a three-game slide as they close out a lengthy six-game road trip in Minnesota as +180 underdogs, while the Toronto Maple Leafs look to bolster a 7-1-0 road record as they visit San Jose as +110 underdogs.
Like the Canadiens, defence has been a huge problem for the Senators. Ottawa has allowed an average of 40 shots per game during a 3-6-2 run, while surrendering 4.64 goals per game during that stretch.
That has generated an 8-2-1 run for the OVER in totals betting when the Senators play. And things could get worse against the rejuvenated Red Wings, who arrive in town as -105 underdogs after claiming victory in seven of their past eight games.
Detroit has also limited the Senators to just one total goal in two straight wins, and held them to two or fewer markers in seven of 10 meetings since February 2016.
The Canucks have lost six of eight on the road, and face a Wild squad with wins in 10 of their past 13 games, while the Maple Leafs look to tally just their second win in San Jose since March 1997.
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