PREMIUM
3
(NHL) Montreal vs. Toronto,
Money Line: 100.00 Montreal (Away)
Result: Win
Money Line: 100.00 Montreal (Away)
Result: Win
This is an 8* play on the Montreal Canadiens.
Toronto took a major step up last season, but I think will regress this year. This is a big game for Montreal as it looks to avoid its fifth straight season-opening loss to the Maple Leafs. The Habs will also be anxious to send an early statement after a painful loss in the Eastern Conference Finals a year ago. Montreal captain Brian Gionta bolted for Buffalo, meaning that four players will wear the C to start the season, including defensemen PK Subban and Andrei Markov, along with forwards Max Pacioretty and Tomas Plekanec. But the biggest reason I like Montreal today (and the reason the playoff loss was so bad), is because goaltender Carey Price is back; Price looked solid in the preseason and is coming off a 2013/14 campaign in which he posted a very respectable 2.32 GAA. An already talented offensive unit will also benefit from having PA Parteneau in the lineup, he'd finish with 14 goals and 19 assists with Colorado last season. The Maple Leafs were early favorites to win the Stanley Cup after the first couple of weeks last year, jumping out to an uncharacteristically quick start but then they'd predictably fall apart down the stretch, which prompted management to hire Brendan Shanahan as GM. Toronto was horrible defensively last year, ranking 26th in the league in giving up a 3.07 GAA and 28th on the penatly kill (78.5%). Jonathan Bernier has won starting goaltender duties (for now anyways), and if he falters they can turn to James Reimer. I'm giving the visitors two crucial edges in this matchup, in goal and in the motivation department, in my opinion this is the very definition of great line value; play on MONTREAL.
AAA Sports
Toronto took a major step up last season, but I think will regress this year. This is a big game for Montreal as it looks to avoid its fifth straight season-opening loss to the Maple Leafs. The Habs will also be anxious to send an early statement after a painful loss in the Eastern Conference Finals a year ago. Montreal captain Brian Gionta bolted for Buffalo, meaning that four players will wear the C to start the season, including defensemen PK Subban and Andrei Markov, along with forwards Max Pacioretty and Tomas Plekanec. But the biggest reason I like Montreal today (and the reason the playoff loss was so bad), is because goaltender Carey Price is back; Price looked solid in the preseason and is coming off a 2013/14 campaign in which he posted a very respectable 2.32 GAA. An already talented offensive unit will also benefit from having PA Parteneau in the lineup, he'd finish with 14 goals and 19 assists with Colorado last season. The Maple Leafs were early favorites to win the Stanley Cup after the first couple of weeks last year, jumping out to an uncharacteristically quick start but then they'd predictably fall apart down the stretch, which prompted management to hire Brendan Shanahan as GM. Toronto was horrible defensively last year, ranking 26th in the league in giving up a 3.07 GAA and 28th on the penatly kill (78.5%). Jonathan Bernier has won starting goaltender duties (for now anyways), and if he falters they can turn to James Reimer. I'm giving the visitors two crucial edges in this matchup, in goal and in the motivation department, in my opinion this is the very definition of great line value; play on MONTREAL.
AAA Sports
