The New Jersey Devils have turned things around from last season. With 79 points, they are already 16 points ahead of their final tally from last season. But is improved performance sustainable? My NHL model isn’t convinced — and that skepticism underpins today’s NHL bet for the Montreal Canadiens-New Jersey Devils matchup. Make sure to check out OddsShopper’s tools to ensure you get the best price.
Best NHL Bet Today | Montreal Canadiens-New Jersey Devils
Montreal Canadiens vs. New Jersey Devils (-345)
The New Jersey Devils rank second in the Metropolitan Division and are 7-2-1 through their last 10 games. FiveThirtyEight projects them for the third-most points this year (109), ahead of teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs. Yet despite this impressive projection, the Devils have just a 2% chance to win the Stanley Cup — worse than two of their division rivals, the Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes.
Yet most NHL betting markets treat the Devils as if they were a much better team. They own the ninth-best odds to win the Stanley Cup (15-1) at DraftKings Sportsbook, or a 6.3% chance. Although they have played well of late, they have won only three of their last 12 games by multiple goals. Half of those contests were tied at the end of regulation.
The Devils come into Tuesday’s game after winning on both Saturday and Sunday, making this their third game in four days. In contrast, the Montreal Canadiens last played on Saturday, and they hadn’t played since Thursday before that. They’ll enter tonight’s contest with a rest advantage, so expect strong play from goaltender Sam Montembeault. Montembeault ranks 13th in goals save above expected (GSAE) this year (11), better than either of New Jersey’s primary netminders, Vitek Vanecek (8.8) and Mackenzie Blackwood (4.6).
Although the Montreal Canadiens rank last in the Atlantic Division and have only 50 points to their name, they aren’t the dregs of the NHL. Montreal ranks 14th in goals for above expected, or GFAE, in all situations (-6.5) and 11th in goals against above expected, or GAAE (-15.7). They trail the Devils in each metric, as New Jersey ranks 11th in GFAE (-3.1) and seventh in GAAE (-17.1), but the gap isn’t as wide as one may assume based on each team’s record. New Jersey’s power play unit ranks sixth-worst in GFAE (-3.4).
The books expect the Canadiens to lose by two goals tonight. They sit in the plus money to keep this within one. While it’s unlikely that the Canadiens score a big upset win, they could at least force overtime, as many of New Jersey’s recent opponents have done. Head to Caesars Sportsbook to get the Montreal Canadiens on the puck line at +110 — one of the best NHL bets for tonight. Readers who are yet to register at Caesars can get their first bet on the book for up to $1,250!
Best NHL Canadiens-Devils Bet: Canadiens +1.5 (+118 for 0.25 Unit) at Caesars
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