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(NHL) Montreal vs. New Jersey,
Money Line: -170.00 New Jersey (Home)
Result: Win
Money Line: -170.00 New Jersey (Home)
Result: Win
The set-up: The 33-25-8 New Jersey Devils are currently holding down the top wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with 74 points but seemingly every time it appears safe to pencil the Devils into one of the East's postseason slots, the club takes a downward turn. New Jersey has managed only five goals during its three-game losing streak and tonight looks to avoid ts fourth losing streak of at least four games since the Christmas break when the Devils host the Montreal Canadiens.The 25-29-11 Canadiens have dropped off the map this season, following winning the Atlantic division last year with 103 points. The team's 61 points in 2017-18 currently leaves them 10 points out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. However, the Canadiens have dominated the series with the Devils, winning five consecutive games and have earned points in six straight (5-0-1) in New Jersey.
Montreal: The Canadiens are 3-0-4 over their last four learned on Monday that team captain Max Pacioretty will miss four to six weeks due to a knee injury sustained in Friday's 6-3 win versus the New York Islanders. Pacioretty (just 17 goals in 64 games TY), who had scored at least 30 goals in each of the previous four seasons and was expected to be moved at last week's trade deadline, was just the latest devastating injury for Montreal. Star goaltender Carey Price and defenseman Shea Weber are already sidelined. The Canadiens have gained a point in their last seven games and that equals their longest streak of the season. However, Montreal is in 14th place in the East and its 167 goals (2.54 per) are the third fewest in the league only behind Buffalo and Edmonton.
New Jersey: The Devils limp in on a three-game losing skid despite the exploits of a red-hot Taylor Hall. He has registered points in all 25 games in which he has played in the 2018 calendar year, as he has become the eighth different player in the last 30 years to collect a point in at least 25 straight games (note: his streak is recognized as an 18-game run since he sat out three contests due to injury). Hall extended his goal-scoring streak to four in a row in Sunday's 3-2 home loss to Vegas and also assisted on a power-play tally by Sami Vatanen, giving the team a man-advantage goal in four straight games. Hall (30 goals and 72 points) has 18 goals and 18 assists in his last 25 games since being kept off the scoresheet on Dec. 30. He is the first since Sidney Crosby in 2010-11 to get a point in 25 straight appearances. If he records another point Tuesday, Hall would become the fifth to do it in 26 games, joining Mario Lemieux (46 games, 1989-90), Mats Sundin (30 games, 1992-93), Steve Yzerman (28 games, 1988-89) and Patrick Kane (26 games, 2015-16).
The pick: It's true that the Canadiens have gained a point in the last 10 meetings (8-0-2) with the Devils and are 12-2-2 in the last 16 encounters but I can't trust this team. Montreal is on a six-game road trip (1-0-1 so far) and is just 9-19-3 away from home ice on the season, allowing a whopping 3.42 GPG. New Jersey's inconsistent overall play is always a worry but Hall is 'on fire' and New Jersey is 15-5-2 when he records at least two points. I'll make the Devils an 8* play.
Montreal: The Canadiens are 3-0-4 over their last four learned on Monday that team captain Max Pacioretty will miss four to six weeks due to a knee injury sustained in Friday's 6-3 win versus the New York Islanders. Pacioretty (just 17 goals in 64 games TY), who had scored at least 30 goals in each of the previous four seasons and was expected to be moved at last week's trade deadline, was just the latest devastating injury for Montreal. Star goaltender Carey Price and defenseman Shea Weber are already sidelined. The Canadiens have gained a point in their last seven games and that equals their longest streak of the season. However, Montreal is in 14th place in the East and its 167 goals (2.54 per) are the third fewest in the league only behind Buffalo and Edmonton.
New Jersey: The Devils limp in on a three-game losing skid despite the exploits of a red-hot Taylor Hall. He has registered points in all 25 games in which he has played in the 2018 calendar year, as he has become the eighth different player in the last 30 years to collect a point in at least 25 straight games (note: his streak is recognized as an 18-game run since he sat out three contests due to injury). Hall extended his goal-scoring streak to four in a row in Sunday's 3-2 home loss to Vegas and also assisted on a power-play tally by Sami Vatanen, giving the team a man-advantage goal in four straight games. Hall (30 goals and 72 points) has 18 goals and 18 assists in his last 25 games since being kept off the scoresheet on Dec. 30. He is the first since Sidney Crosby in 2010-11 to get a point in 25 straight appearances. If he records another point Tuesday, Hall would become the fifth to do it in 26 games, joining Mario Lemieux (46 games, 1989-90), Mats Sundin (30 games, 1992-93), Steve Yzerman (28 games, 1988-89) and Patrick Kane (26 games, 2015-16).
The pick: It's true that the Canadiens have gained a point in the last 10 meetings (8-0-2) with the Devils and are 12-2-2 in the last 16 encounters but I can't trust this team. Montreal is on a six-game road trip (1-0-1 so far) and is just 9-19-3 away from home ice on the season, allowing a whopping 3.42 GPG. New Jersey's inconsistent overall play is always a worry but Hall is 'on fire' and New Jersey is 15-5-2 when he records at least two points. I'll make the Devils an 8* play.
