Hi there, it’s Rodd from Tony’s Picks, coming at you with the Montreal Canadiens vs. Minnesota Wild matchup here on Thursday, November 14, 2024. Just before we get into that NHL selection, I want to say hey—if you’re new to Tony’s Picks, welcome aboard! Glad to have you here. Make sure you subscribe, and give us a thumbs up—it’s greatly appreciated.
Montembeault vs. Gustavsson
All right, let’s get into the action between Montreal and Minnesota on Thursday night. We’ve got Montembeault confirmed to start for Montreal, while Gustavsson is confirmed in goal for the Wild. Minnesota’s coming off an overtime loss in their last game against Chicago, where they fell 2-1. With three days of rest following a long road trip, there might be a bit of rust on Minnesota’s end as they get back on home ice.
Montreal’s Strong Record Against the Central Division
Looking at Montreal’s performance against Central Division teams, they’ve been competitive, covering the puck line in ten straight games against Central opponents. They keep things tight, battling hard and staying in games. The last time these two met in Minnesota, it took overtime for the Wild to pull off a 4-3 victory. Given the matchup, I’m leaning toward a higher-scoring game here. Montreal’s offense came out strong against Buffalo, and I expect they’ll bring that same intensity against Gustavsson and the Wild.
Montreal Plus the Puck and a Half
Head-to-head, we’ve seen some solid scoring between these teams. Their last game ended 4-3, and the one before that went 5-2, so goals have been plentiful when these two face off. For me, the best play here is to take Montreal plus the goal and a half. As I mentioned, they’ve covered that puck line ten straight times against the Central Division. I’m betting their offense is ready to break out again, so give me Montreal plus the puck and a half in this one on Thursday.