Montreal Canadiens @ Carolina Hurricanes - March 28, 2025

Alright, folks, gather ‘round because we’ve got a matchup that’s got the potential for some fireworks—or at least a good old-fashioned battle on the ice. The Montreal Canadiens are heading to Lenovo Center to face off against the Carolina Hurricanes, and let me tell you, this one has my betting senses tingling.

First off, let’s talk about the odds. The Hurricanes come in as hefty favorites at -227 against the Canadiens. That might make some bettors a bit nervous—after all, when you’re laying down that kind of cash, you expect a sure thing. But here’s where it gets interesting: Montreal is currently on a four-game losing streak and has been struggling to find their footing lately. Despite their woes, they’ve shown some resilience with an impressive 8-2 ATS record over their last ten games. So while they might be down on their luck, they’re not going down without a fight.

Now let’s break down what each team brings to the table. Carolina boasts an offensive juggernaut with an average of 3.2 goals per game and nearly 32 shots fired per game—a solid shooting percentage hovering around 10%. Their power play is decent too; they convert just over 18% of their chances into goals. On defense? They’re no slouches either, boasting an impressive save percentage of 89.4% and an equally commendable penalty kill rate of about 84%.

On the flip side, Montreal has been putting up about 3 goals per game themselves but struggles with shot volume—averaging only around 26 shots per game which is far below league standards. Their power play isn’t too shabby either at over 21%, so they can capitalize if given opportunities.

However, here’s where I see value for us savvy bettors: even though Carolina should take this one home—let’s be real—they’re not invincible. With Montreal covering the spread quite well lately (and let’s remember that if you’re betting on underdogs who win outright—they also cover), I’m inclined to lean towards them pulling off a respectable performance tonight.

And about that total? I’d say keep your eyes peeled for it being under the line set at 5.5. Given both teams’ recent trends—Montreal’s last five games have gone OVER while Carolina has seen eight of their last twelve go UNDER—it makes sense to expect more defensive posturing than offensive fireworks tonight.

So here’s how I see it: Carolina takes home the W—but don’t sleep on Montreal covering that spread! And as always in this wild world of hockey betting, trust your instincts and maybe light that lucky candle before you place your bets! Good luck out there!