The Montreal Canadiens worked an extra 64 minutes through on-ice activities at their practice facility in Brossard, Quebec on what was supposed to be a day off Sunday, in hopes that it will help end their 186 minute streak of futility when they take on the Atlanta Thrashers on Tuesday. That is how long it has been since the Canadiens scored a goal, the final tally in an 8-1 win over the Minnesota Wild over a week ago.
Atlanta Thrashers @ Montreal Canadiens
Tuesday March 29, 2011 – 7:30 PM ET
Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec
Online Sports Betting Odds: Canadiens – 120
The Canadiens had plenty of support at the arena when hundreds of fans showed up to cheer their team on, only hours after they were booed off the ice following a 2-0 loss to the Washington Capitals. Montreal will battle to end their skid against an Atlanta team that has ranked among the coldest through the second half of the NHL season to fall out of the Eastern conference playoff race.
NHL Betting Preview: Thrashers
Three wins in 19 games from January through February pushed Atlanta from the top of the Southeast down to fourth in the division and outside of the elite eight in the conference. While they are no longer in free-fall mode, the Thrashers are still struggling to find their consistency with four wins through their last eight games, and now face a five-game road trip. Atlanta allowed the worst team in the Eastern conference to score twice in the third period and force a shootout in an eventual 5-4 win over the Ottawa Senators, and will need a much more focused effort on the road where they have hovered around the .500 mark this season.
NHL Betting Preview: Canadiens
The Canadiens’ players know all about the need to remain focused after head coach Jacques Martin put them through tough workout drills on what was supposed to be a day off. The obvious initial goal will be to get on the board and end their three-game goalless drought, and getting to the net and causing traffic in front of the Atlanta goal will be something that Montreal’s forwards concentrate on. The one consistent this sports betting bonus season has been the play of netminder Carey Price, who is a legitimate Hart trophy candidate for the league’s most valuable player. Price ranks second in the NHL in wins and shutouts, and in the top-10 in nearly every other important statistical category.
NHL Betting: Matchup & Pick
Price will hold down the fort until the Canadiens’ offense can finally get going, and that shouldn’t be a problem against an Atlanta team that has allowed more goals than any other team in the Eastern conference. Montreal is on pace to have just one player hit the 30-goal mark in team captain Brian Gionta, and will need more production from its role players in order to finish the pay per head season strong.
Gambling Advisor blog Pick: Montreal Canadiens - 120
