The Montreal Canadiens are set to host the New York Islanders tonight at the Bell Centre, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. EST. The game marks the first meeting of the season between the two Eastern Conference teams, both currently positioned in playoff contention.
As of Wednesday evening, the Canadiens were favored to win by BetMGM Sportsbook, with odds of -152, while the Islanders were listed as underdogs at +127. The over/under for total goals scored in the game is set at 6, according to sports betting data.
The Canadiens enter the game with a record of 32-17-8, holding third place in the Atlantic Division. They recently secured a 5-1 victory on the road against the Winnipeg Jets on February 4th. Montreal has demonstrated a strong offensive capability, particularly when scoring at least three goals, boasting a 29-6-7 record in such games. Over their last ten games, the Canadiens have averaged four goals per game.
The Islanders, with a record of 32-21-5, currently occupy the eighth position in the Metropolitan Division. Their most recent contest saw them defeat the New Jersey Devils 3-1 on the road on February 5th. The Islanders have a history of performing well as underdogs, having upset their opponents in 23 of 38 games where they were listed as such. They have also proven successful when scoring at least three goals, with a 23-3-3 record in those matches.
Both teams have reported no injuries as of today, February 26th. Nicholas Suzuki leads the Canadiens in scoring with 18 goals and 47 assists, while Lane Hutson has contributed two goals and 11 assists over the last ten games. For the Islanders, Mathew Barzal tops the scoring charts with 17 goals and 34 assists, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau has recorded four goals and two assists in his last ten appearances.
The game will be streamed live on ESPN+. The Canadiens have won 13 of 25 games where they were favored this season, while the Islanders have a record of 8-4 in games where they were listed as underdogs with moneyline odds of +127 or longer.
