Canucks Look for Fourth Straight Win as Canadiens Visit Vancouver Tonight

Wed, Mar 10, 2021
By Jim Vassallo (Veri.bet Writer)

In a game that could have lasting implications in the North Division, the Montreal Canadiens (11-6-7, 6-1-6 away) visit the Vancouver Canucks (12-15-2, 8-6-2 home) on Wednesday, March 10, at 11 PM ET at the Rogers Arena.

It’s no secret that these two teams have no love lost between them and Wednesday night could be another heated meeting. The two teams have already played six games in their nine-game regular-season series, with the Canadiens leading the series 4-2. 

Montreal had won four in a row in the series before Vancouver recorded a 2-1 win in a shootout on Monday, March 8. Montreal has outscored Vancouver 29-18 through the first six games, averaging 4.8 goals per game in the series to just 3.0 goals per game for the Canucks.

Montreal is sitting in fourth place in the North, while Vancouver is in fifth. The Canadiens are holding a three-point lead on the Canucks in the standings, so a win in regulation tonight for Montreal would give them a five-point cushion over Vancouver. 

Both teams are looking up at the first-place Toronto Maple Leafs. Toronto has 38 points and is five points ahead of second-place Winnipeg in the division standings. 

The Canucks are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games played, winning three in a row at home, including a 2-1 contest over the Canadiens on Monday. During that span, the Canucks have scored an average of 2.5 goals per game and have allowed 2.0 goals per game.

The Canadiens look to get back in the win column after having their four-game win streak against the Canucks snapped on Monday. In their last 10 games overall, the Canadiens are 3-2-5, scoring an average of 2.9 goals per game, while allowing 2.7 goals per game.

Elias Pettersson has been listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury for the Canucks, while the Canadiens do not have any players on the injury list heading into Wednesday night’s North Division tilt.

Should Montreal get back into the win column tonight in regulation, the Canadiens would pick up two points and move to within one point of the Edmonton Oilers in the North Division for third place. 

A win in regulation for Vancouver would pull the Canucks to within one point of the Canadiens in the North standings. 

After tonight’s game, these two teams will meet again on March 19 and 20 for back-to-back games at Centre Bell in Montreal. This regular-season series could be a playoff preview between two strong teams that don’t have a lot of love for each other.

If you are interested in placing a bet on tonight’s game, the over-under has been set at six goals, which is understandable considering the history of this series. With the Canadiens averaging almost five goals per game in this series, it might be smart to take the Over 6 total goals tonight. The money line (-160) and the puck line (-1.5) are both with Montreal tonight.