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(NHL) Winnipeg vs. Montreal,
Money Line: -170.00 Montreal (Home)
Result: Loss
Money Line: -170.00 Montreal (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The 26-29-5 Winnipeg Jets have just 54 points and will be in Montreal to face the 31-19-8 Canadiens, who have 70 points and sit atop the Atlantic Division. However, Montreal owns the NHL's worst February record at 1-5-1 and has responded by firing head coach Michel Therrien on Tuesday. The Canadiens have hired Claude Julien, who coached the Canadiens from 2003-06 and was Boston's head coach this season, before be fired on Feb. 7th.
Winnipeg: The Jets lost 4-3 (OT) at Pittsburgh on Thursday and visit Montreal having lost five of six. They sit four points out of the final Western Conference wild-card spot but have played more games than all the other teams. The Jets fired a season-high 47 shots on goal Thursday but Pittsburgh goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.turned a way 44. Thursday's loss was the first of a four-game road trip and the Jets badly need to stop giving up goals. Winnipeg has allowed at least three goals in 16 of its past 17 games, giving up four or more nine times!
Montreal: Despite the Canadiens' poor February record, they return from their bye week with a four-point lead over Ottawa for first place in the Atlantic Division. "I am convinced that he has the capabilities to get our team back on the winning track," Montreal GM Marc Bergevin said in a statement regarding Julien. Clearly, the current Canadiens are not the same team which opened the season 13-1-1 in its first 15 games. Goaltender Carey Price has surrendered four goals in three consecutive games and his save percentage is .879 in five February appearances.
The pick: Yes, Price has struggled this month but a week off should help, as will the team's mental state after the coaching change. Price has a GAA of 2.46 on the season and a save percentage of .917. I noted Montreal's February struggles but Winnipeg is right there with them this month, going 2-5-1. Now teams coming off their bye weeks have gone 0-5-0 in their first game back but that makes little sense and is just a blip on the radar. Through all its ups and downs this season, Montreal is 18-7-4 on home ice, outscoring opponents 3.28-to-2.10. Make Montreal an 8* play.
Winnipeg: The Jets lost 4-3 (OT) at Pittsburgh on Thursday and visit Montreal having lost five of six. They sit four points out of the final Western Conference wild-card spot but have played more games than all the other teams. The Jets fired a season-high 47 shots on goal Thursday but Pittsburgh goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.turned a way 44. Thursday's loss was the first of a four-game road trip and the Jets badly need to stop giving up goals. Winnipeg has allowed at least three goals in 16 of its past 17 games, giving up four or more nine times!
Montreal: Despite the Canadiens' poor February record, they return from their bye week with a four-point lead over Ottawa for first place in the Atlantic Division. "I am convinced that he has the capabilities to get our team back on the winning track," Montreal GM Marc Bergevin said in a statement regarding Julien. Clearly, the current Canadiens are not the same team which opened the season 13-1-1 in its first 15 games. Goaltender Carey Price has surrendered four goals in three consecutive games and his save percentage is .879 in five February appearances.
The pick: Yes, Price has struggled this month but a week off should help, as will the team's mental state after the coaching change. Price has a GAA of 2.46 on the season and a save percentage of .917. I noted Montreal's February struggles but Winnipeg is right there with them this month, going 2-5-1. Now teams coming off their bye weeks have gone 0-5-0 in their first game back but that makes little sense and is just a blip on the radar. Through all its ups and downs this season, Montreal is 18-7-4 on home ice, outscoring opponents 3.28-to-2.10. Make Montreal an 8* play.
