The BB&T Center plays host to an intriguing tilt as the Montreal Canadiens travel to Florida to take on the Panthers. Fox SportsNet Florida will broadcast this divisional matchup, which gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 7.

Montreal Canadiens at Florida Panthers Odds

With a moneyline of -120, Florida enters the game as the favorite. The line for Montreal sits at +100, and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 7 goals (-120 to bet the under, +100 for the over).

Losing 4.3 units for moneyline gamblers, Florida is 33-34 straight up (SU) overall this year. That early-season winning percentage is fairly close to what the team produced during last year’s regular season (36-46). Of its 67 games this season, 38 have gone over the total, while 26 have gone under and just three have pushed. The team’s 16-18 SU at home this year.

The Panthers have converted on 21.1 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 22nd overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 78.0 percent of all penalties.

As a team, the Panthers have been penalized just 3.2 times per game overall this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five matchups. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays for just 7.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, in total.

With a .900 save percentage and 27.1 saves per game, Sergei Bobrovsky (24-26-6) has been the most dependable option in goal for Florida this year. If Florida chooses to give him a breather, however, the team could go with Sam Montembeault (5-9-9 record, .890 save percentage, 3.34 goals against average).

Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov will both be focal points for the Panthers. Huberdeau (77 points) has produced 22 goals and 55 assists and has recorded two or more points on 21 separate occasions this year. Barkov has 20 goals and 42 assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in 39 games.

In the other locker room, Montreal is 31-38 straight up (SU) and has lost 15.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. A total of 34 of its matches have gone under the total, while 32 have gone over and just three have pushed. The Canadiens are 17-16 SU as the visiting team this season.

The Canadiens have converted on 18.2 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 20th overall and it’s successfully killed off 78.4 percent of all opponent power plays.

Montreal’s skaters have been penalized 3.4 times per game in total this season, and 4.2 per game over their last five on the road. The team’s been forced to kill penalties 13.4 minutes per contest over their last five road games.

Carey Price (.909 save percentage and 2.77 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Montreal. Price is averaging 27.4 saves per game and owns a 27-30-6 record.

For the visiting Canadiens, the offense will run through Tomas Tatar, who’s got 39 assists and 22 goals this season.

Montreal Canadiens vs. Florida Panthers Betting Predictions

Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Panthers, O/U – Over

Notes

Betting Trends

Florida is 3-4 in games decided by a shootout this season while Montreal is 4-1 in shootouts.

Four of Florida’s last five games gone under the total.

This game features two clubs that have clobbered opponents’ goalies with shots. Montreal has attempted the league’s third-most shots on goal (34.2) while Florida has attempted the ninth-most (32.6).

Florida has averaged 3.4 goals per game overall this year, but is averaging 1.5 goals per contest over its four-game losing streak.

Six of Florida’s last ten games have been decided by two or more goals. The team is 2-4 overall in those games.

Montreal skaters have accounted for the sixth-most hits in the league (26.4 per game), but that number’s down to just 19.8 hits over their last five away games.