The Florida Panthers (47-23-5) travel to face off against the Montreal Canadiens (28-33-12) on Tuesday, April 2nd. This game will be played at Bell Centre in Montreal and televised on ESPN+. Both the Panthers and Canadiens will be looking to bounce back from losses in their previous games. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 ET.
Panthers vs Canadiens
The Florida Panthers Look To Bounce Back From A Loss
Florida enters this game with a record of 47-23-5, which puts them in 4th place in the Eastern Conference and 2nd in the Atlantic Division. Over their last ten games, the Panthers have gone just 3-7, and they have lost two of their last three games.
On the road this season, Florida has gone 25-10-3 and has been favored in 61 of their 75 games. Against other teams in the Eastern Conference, the Panthers have gone 28-15, and they have gone 41-18-2 as the favorite.
Florida enters the game with a puck line record of 36-39 and has gone 25-13 against the puck line on the road. So far, the Panthers have had 29 wins by multiple goals and have dropped 16 games by more than one goal.
Overall, the team has an average scoring margin of +.7 goals per game and has gone 25-36 against the puck line as the favorite. In their last ten road games, the Panthers have gone 8-2 against the puck line.
Following a 6-4 loss on the road to the Maple Leafs, the Panthers are eager to bounce back. In the first period, the Panthers struggled to find the net on offense, but they turned things around with one time in the second period and three goals in the third. In the game, Florida managed to score all four goals at even strength. They concluded with 30 shots on goal and committed 9 turnovers.
Florida went into the game favored by -1.5, giving them a loss vs. the puck line. The teams surpassed the over/under line, which was set at 6.5 goals, with a combined total of 10 goals.
The Montreal Canadiens Look To Bounce Back From A Loss
At home this season, the Canadiens have gone 14-18-4, and they are 15th in the Eastern Conference standings with 68 points. In the Atlantic Division, they are 8th with a record of 4-16.
Over their last ten games, Montreal has gone 4-6, and they have won two straight games when they have been favored. For the year, the Canadiens are 5-1 when they have been favored.
Montreal enters the game with a puck line record of 47-26 and has gone 45-22 against the puck line as the underdog. The Canadiens have had 17 wins by one goal and have gone 7-3 against the puck line in their last 10 games.
This season, the Canadiens have an average scoring margin of -0.7 goals per game and have gone 23-13 against the puck line at home. In their last three home games, Montreal has gone 2-1 against the puck line.
Following a 3-0 loss at home to the Hurricanes, the Canadiens are eager to bounce back. Facing the Carolina defense, the Canadiens were shutout. During the game, the Canadiens’ offense had 16 turnovers and took 26 shots on goal while being shutout.
Entering the game as the underdog, Montreal not only suffered a straight-up loss but also failed to cover the puck line. The game finished below the over/under line of 6 with a combined total of 3 goals.
Florida Offense Breakdown
Offensively, the Panthers come into the game at 3.2 goals per contest placing 13th in the NHL. In terms of shots on goal per game, they are in 2nd position in the league. Florida’s offense is currently ranked 3rd in power play goals. When it comes to shorthanded goals, they are 13th in the league.
This season, the Panthers’ have an over/under record of 28-44-3. Throughout the season, they have played 41 games that did not exceed the 6 over/under line. On average, their games are averaging 5.7 goals per game.
Canadiens Offense Breakdown
Offensively, the Canadiens come into the game at 2.7 goals per contest placing 28th in the NHL. In terms of shots on goal per game, they are in 28th position in the league. Looking at how the Canadiens’ offense is performing during power plays, they are 22nd in power play goals and 22nd in shorthanded goals.
The Canadiens’ over/under record this season is 35-36-2. Last season, they had 33 games failed to surpass this game’s over/under line of 6. Overall, their games averaged 6.6 goals per game.
Florida Team Defense
Florida defense takes on the Canadiens ranked 29th in goals allowed. On average, opponents are averaging 27.5 shots per game against Florida. They also are 10th in shutouts, with 5 shutouts.
Montreal Team Defense
Montreal defense takes on the Panthers ranked 8th in goals allowed. On average, opponents are averaging 32.3 shots per game against Montreal. They also are 25th in shutouts, with 2 shutouts.
Panthers vs Canadiens Trends
- Florida has a 2-3 record in their last five road games. In this stretch, they averaged 3 goals per game while allowing 3. The team also performed well vs the puck line at 3-2.
- Montreal has a 1-2 record in their last three home games. In this stretch, they averaged 1 goals per game while allowing 2. The team also performed well vs the puck line at 2-1.
- Spanning across their last ten games as the betting underdog, the Canadiens have gone 6-4 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 3-7.
- As the betting favorite, the Panthers have an puck line mark of just 0-3 in their last three games. Florida posted a straight up mark of 1-2 in these matchups.
Panthers vs Canadiens Prediction
To those searching for a pure moneyline wager, the Panthers is the clear pick. Still, with a payout of -222, it’s worth thinking about including this bet in a parlay.
For my recommended choice in the puck line, I’m leaning towards the Canadiens to cover. Even if the Panthers secure a straight-up win, this game is expected to be tightly contested, and the Canadiens should cover the puck line.
When considering the over/under line, which is currently at 6 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.
Last updated:April 2, 2024 Canadiens, Panthers