Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the NHL match.
Both teams were on the receiving end of six goals in their recent outings, although they generally exhibit a subdued scoring tendency. Will they revert to type this time?
Montreal Canadiens
Against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Canadiens seemed poised for a narrow (3:2) victory, but a late second-period mistake and a lacklustre third period turned their lead into a convincing defeat (3:6). This season, their games have either been low-scoring affairs (Toronto Maple Leafs 1:0, Ottawa Senators 4:1) or high-scoring shootouts (Boston Bruins 4:6). The question is, what defines the real Canadiens?
Los Angeles Kings
The Kings have struggled defensively in back-to-back games. Against the Toronto Maple Leafs, David Rittich conceded three goals on 11 shots in the first period alone, and the Kings couldn't claw back, with a 0:5 gap eventually leading to a 2:6 loss. Prior to that, they engaged in a thrilling contest with the Ottawa Senators (8:7 OT), squandering a lead to end up on the losing side. However, the Kings have shown they can be defensively solid, allowing just one goal in regulation against both the Buffalo Sabres and the Boston Bruins in their opening games.
Montreal Canadiens vs Los Angeles Kings Prediction
Historical encounters suggest that these teams are likely to engage in a tighter, defensively dominated game. In four of their last five meetings, the total under 5.5 has been a winning bet. Expect this trend to continue tonight.
