The Montreal Canadiens (33-30-9) travel to face off against the Florida Panthers (44-25-3) on Sunday, March 30th. This game will be played at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise and televised on ESPN+. The Panthers are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Canadiens are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Penguins. Puck drop is set for 1:00 ET.

Canadiens vs Panthers

The Montreal Canadiens Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

Montreal’s 3-1 loss to the Penguins dropped them to 33-30-9 this season. The Canadiens entered the game as underdogs on the puck line, and the total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined 4 goals fell short of that mark.

All of the scoring came from different players, with Montreal’s lone goal coming in the third period from Christian Dvorak. The Penguins sealed the game with an empty-net goal at 19:15 in the third.

The Florida Panthers Are Coming Off A Win

Florida improved to 44-25-3 with a 4-2 win over the Stars. The Panthers covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total was set at 6.5 goals, with the combined score of 6 falling just short of that mark.

All four of Florida’s goals came from different players. They led 2-0 before the Stars tied it up, but the Panthers regained the lead with a goal at 2:32 in the third period and added an empty-netter with 1:00 remaining to seal the victory.

Montreal Offense Breakdown

Montreal’s offense managed just one goal in their 3-1 loss to Pittsburgh, with Christian Dvorak finding the net for the first time this season at 14:28 in the third period. Emil Heineman picked up his first assist of the year, while Juraj Slafkovsky added his seventh assist.

The Canadiens fired 26 shots on goal but were held scoreless until the third period. They recorded 20 giveaways and were unable to capitalize on any power play opportunities.

Panthers Offense Breakdown

Carolina’s offense took 25 shots on goal in their 4-2 win over Dallas. A.J. Greer scored his first goal of the season, while Sam Reinhart added his 10th on an empty net. The Panthers had 16 giveaways and scored twice in the third period, including Greer’s goal at 17:28.

Earlier in the game, Evan Rodrigues netted his third goal of the season, and Matthew Tkachuk added his third, which came on a power play. The Panthers recorded 6 assists in the game.

Montreal Team Defense

Defensively, the Canadiens gave up the first two goals of the game, with both coming from Sidney Crosby. The first was at 15:57 in the first period, and the second was a power-play goal at 18:40 in the second. After closing the gap to 2-1 in the third, Montreal allowed an empty net goal with just 45 seconds left. Goalie Sam Montembeault made 21 saves with a 91.3% save percentage, while the Canadiens’ defense recorded 4 takeaways and 28 hits.

Florida Team Defense

Florida’s defense gave up two goals in their last game, both in the second period. The first was a power-play goal at 11:22, and the second came just 34 seconds later. However, they kept Dallas off the board in the third period, helping secure a 4-2 win. Spencer Knight made 23 saves with a 92% save percentage, and the Panthers’ defense added 8 takeaways and 22 hits.

Canadiens vs Panthers Trends

• In their last three games away from home, the Canadiens have a straight up record of 0-3 while going 0-3 vs. the spread. The team averaged 2 goals per game in this stretch.
• Although Florida has a straight up record of 9-1 in their last ten home games, they have not held up as well vs the puck line going 5-5. The team averaged 3 goals per game in these games.
• Spanning across their last three games as the betting underdog, the Panthers have gone 2-1 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 1-2.
• Across their last three matchups as the betting favorite, the Canadiens have an overall record of 2-1 while going 0-3 against the spread.

Canadiens vs Panthers Prediction

For those seeking a straight moneyline bet, the Panthers are the top choice. Nonetheless, with a payout of -275, you might want to use this bet as a part of a parlay to get better odds.

If you’re looking for a puck line bet, I’d suggest going with the Canadiens to cover. Even in the event of a Panthers victory, this game is expected to be closely fought, and the Canadiens should cover the puck line.

When considering the over/under line, which is currently at 5.5 goals, we believe that this game will go over that threshold, and we recommend wagering on the over.

All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.