This is a 10* TOTAL on the UNDER Habs/Bruins.

The reason why this matchup isn't as good as it could be, or has been in the past, is because the Montreal Canadiens are just flat out terrible this year.

Now, that's for sure due to a few reasons: they were hit hard by COVID at the start, and star goaltender Carey Price hasn't played. He's the heart and soul of the team.

The Canadiens come to Boston with a 7-23-4 overall record, and that includes a 2-13-3 record on the road.

And then on the other end of the spectrum we have the steady Boston Bruins, who have gone through a lot of significant changes over the last two years, but who continue to grind out victories. Boston is 19-11-1-1 overall, and 9-6-1 at home.

I just don't see why the Bruins would lay the hammer down here on Montreal though, because they just don't have to.

Montreal has lost three straight and it's scored a total of just TWO goals over its last two games. It only averages 2.12 goals per game, which is 32nd in the league (their powerplay is ranked 32nd as well.)

Boston averages 3.06 goals per game, which in this year's NHL is only the middle of the pack ranked 15th. But the Bruins have once again been one of the best on the defensive end by conceding only 2.59 goals per game, which ranks seventh.

I just can't see where the Canadiens' offense is going to come from in this one while at the same time I do expect Boston to be patient here in its approach.

I'm rolling with the UNDER between the Canadiens and the Bruins on Wednesday night.

Good luck, NP