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Bruins vs Canadiens November 26 Pick: Habs Home Underdogs in Bid to End Four-Game Slide

Daniel Coyle

by Daniel Coyle in NHL Hockey

Updated Apr 13, 2020 · 2:19 PM PDT

Closeup of Carey Price
Goaltender Carey Price has not been alone in his struggles during the four-game losing streak that the Montreal Canadiens take into Tuesday night's date with the visiting Boston Bruins. Photo by Michael Miller (wikimedia commons).
  • Montreal Canadiens pegged as home underdogs after losing four straight
  • Canadiens have blown multi-goal leads in two of its four recent losses
  • Boston Bruins have won three straight and earned at least a point in each of their past seven

The Montreal Canadiens will be searching for an end to a four-game losing streak when they play host to the arch-rival Boston Bruins on Tuesday night as +108 underdogs on the Bruins vs Canadiens odds.

Boston Bruins vs Montreal Canadiens Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Odds Total
Boston Bruins -1.5 (+190) -119 O 6 (-118)
Montreal Canadiens +1.5 (-220) +108 U 6 (+107)

Odds taken Nov. 26

Canadiens Struggling at Both Ends of the Ice

Montreal has earned just two points during its four-game slide, which has dumped the club into third place in the Atlantic Division standings, eight points back of first-place Boston going into Tuesday’s Bruins vs. Canadiens matchup at Bell Centre.

While the start of the Canadiens’ swoon coincided with the loss of Jonathan Drouin and Paul Byron indefinitely to injury, the club has had its fair share of opportunities over their past four games. Montreal has outshot opponents in three of its four recent losses, averaging over 36 shots per game. The club has also potted three power-play goals over the past four contests, while giving up just one marker while shorthanded.

Defense a Massive Concern

The Canadiens have stumbled defensively, from the net out. Goaltender Carey Price has struggled during the Canadiens’ slide, allowing 13 goals on 84 total shots in three straight losing starts, and backup Keith Kincaid has allowed 17 total goals over his four starts so far this season.

The Canadiens have now blown multi-goal leads in two of their past four outings. The club has failed to come out to play in the final frame in recent contests, allowing three third-period goals on two occasions over its past four games, and getting outscored by a 7-1 overall margin.

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Things went from bad to worse for the Canadiens last time out, against the New York Rangers on Saturday. Montreal blew a 4-0 lead on the way to a 6-5 loss that extended the club’s home losing streak to three games, as well as marking their first loss in regulation when leading after one period.

Bruins Ride Three-Game Win Streak

Perched as -119 favorites in Tuesday night’s contest, the Bruins arrive in Montreal on a high after extending their current win streak to three games with a 5-4 victory in Minnesota on Saturday night. Boston twice trailed by two goals in their date with the Wild before forcing overtime with a pair of goals in the final two minutes to set the stage for Torey Krug’s overtime winner.

Overall, the Bruins have won four of five and have picked up at least a point in seven straight contests, solidifying their perch as favorites atop the Atlantic Division odds. However, Boston has continued to produce mixed results on the road. The club has earned wins away from TD Garden in just three of seven contests since opening the season with three straight road victories.

Boston Enjoys Strong Track Record in Montreal

The Bruins also dropped a 5-4 decision in their most recent trip to Montreal, back on November 5, marking their second straight defeat at the hands of the Canadiens. However, the club demonstrated character in that contest, erasing an early two-goal deficit, and scoring four goals on just 25 shots against price, who sports a middling 3-5-2 record in his past 10 starts against Boston.

That loss also marked the Bruins’ first defeat in Montreal since November 2016, ending a run of five straight victories during which the Canadiens mustered just seven total goals.

Picks: Bruins -1.5 (+190), Over 6 (-118)

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