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Montreal vs. Buffalo: NHL Match Prediction
Montreal will play at home again on December 18, where they will try to take advantage of Buffalo terrible form and earn important points. Our experts, in turn, have prepared a forecast in which they will tell you about the clubs' latest matches, and also help you highlight the most relevant bets
Command Analysis
Montreal Canadiens
CanadaCurrent form
Montreal continues to be in poor shape, losing points in almost every game. The team recently completed a long home series, which ended with a terrible result. The team hosted Pittsburgh and showed a very weak game in defense, suffering a crushing defeat with a score of 2:9. Both goalies Montembeault and Primeau showed their worst side, reflecting only 72% of shots between them. The third period turned out to be a failure, in which they had to allow six goals in 15 minutes. Before that, the team met with an opponent of their level in the person of Anaheim and was one step away from another defeat, but with great difficulty snatched victory in a series of shootouts (3:2).
The Canadiens then traveled to Winnipeg, where they were again unable to contain the onslaught of the clear favorite, suffering a 2-4 defeat. Indeed, throughout the regular season, the club has been experiencing huge problems in defense and is unable to compensate for this deficiency with its attacking line, as it rarely realizes dangerous moments in the opponent zone. Due to a long decline, the team continues to remain in the last line of the Eastern Conference standings, with only 25 points.
Disqualifications and injuries
It is worth noting that Montreal has no problems with the roster. Only goalkeeper Price remains in the infirmary.
Interesting trends for betting
- On average, Montreal allows 3.7 goals per game.
The Canadians are having a hard time holding back the pressure of their opponents.
- The team receives an average of 11 penalty minutes per match
It is also worth noting the very poor discipline of the club, which leads to constant removals.
Buffalo Sabres
USACurrent form
Buffalo slump has been going on for a very long time. The team has not been able to achieve the desired result for ten games, and most of them ended in regulation time. The team ended a long home series in which it was unable to win a single game, and only Detroit and Winnipeg managed to put up a decent fight, losing in a shootout and overtime, respectively. Then the Sabres went to visit the leader of the Eastern Conference, Washington, and as expected, they were unable to fight back, suffering another defeat with a difference of two goals (2:4). The attacking line showed its worst side, having made only 20 shots on the Capitals' goal in three periods, which, of course, was not enough.
Continuing to play on the road, the "blades" met with another clear favorite and lost to "Toronto" with a score of 3:5. The defensive line allowed the "leaves" to create a huge number of dangerous moments in their zone, which led to the failure. Indeed, the club defense leaves much to be desired and it is precisely because of it that they have not been able to achieve success. A long decline has led to the fact that "Buffalo" has already dropped to the penultimate line in the Eastern Conference table, and the advantage over "Montreal" is only one point.
Disqualifications and injuries
Buffalo has no serious problems with its roster. Only two players remain questionable for the upcoming match: Dahlin and Lafferty.
Interesting trends for betting
- On average, Buffalo scores three goals per game.
The team continues to show very effective play in attack, but this does not bring the desired result due to constant failures in defense.
- The Sabres are averaging 10.6 penalty minutes per game.
One cannot help but notice the very weak discipline of the club.
Trends
Goal in each period bet – no
In three out of four head-to-head games, the teams failed to score a goal in each period.
2.44Bet First Goal: Montreal
Montreal has opened the scoring in three of the four head-to-head games
2.01Tip and bets
Buffalo has a great opportunity to finally break its losing streak. The team will face the main outsider of the Eastern Conference, Montreal, which is also in terrible shape and earns points with great difficulty. Home walls do not always help the Canadiens achieve success, so there is no point in believing in their victory in the upcoming match. The Sabres are in no way inferior to their competitor and simply must cling to victory.
Our prediction is Buffalo win the match at 1.77
Bet on total
In the upcoming match, we can expect a large number of goals scored. Both teams have serious problems in defense and constantly allow their opponents to realize themselves in attack. So, as a second bet, we choose total over.
Forecast - total over 5.5 goals for 1.79
Bet on the outcome of the first period
Montreal has one of its most successful first periods. The team rarely allows opponents to gain an advantage, and the home walls will help them not to lose in the opening period.
Prediction: Montreal won't lose in the first period at 1.50
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