Canadiens Betting Odds and Strategies

Before making recommendations, let’s make sure we have a clear understanding of the Montreal Canadiens’ landscape and the Stanley Cup odds. The Canadiens’ current situation is both in their control and riding on the wildly inconsistent soap opera playing out in the middle of the Eastern Conference.

The New York Rangers? For much of the season they were back to the Strangers, but a recent surge and win over the Columbus Blue Jackets Saturday vaulted them into the second wild card spot.

The Canadiens trail the Strangers, er, Rangers, by one point with one game in hand. New York has 30 regulation wins compared to the Canadiens’ 23, so the tiebreaker will most likely go to the Blueshirts. The Canadiens need to win their game in hand and earn an extra point.

If you’re looking to place bets, some of the sportsbooks have left the Canadiens odds quite low. For example, BetUS has the Canadiens at +15,000 to win the Eastern Conference. Check out odds and promos as well as some NHL betting advice.

Canadiens Playoff Odds: Cautious Approach

The Canadiens are a young, plucky bunch, probably a year ahead of schedule, but they’re still in the middle–neither dropping to the dregs of the East or rising above Columbus and New York.

According to MoneyPuck, the Canadiens have only an 18.7% chance of making the playoffs. MoneyPuck factors in schedule, talent, and player projections to arrive at its numbers. We disagree; the Centre Bell dwellers are a solid 40% in our minds.

New York has been far too inconsistent this season. A recent injury to Adam Fox knocked them back, but J.T. Miller has been carrying the team with 14 points, including three multi-point games, in his last 12 games.

He’ll need to take a breath, eh?

Part of the reason the Canadiens are such underdogs remains their preseason projections. They were a favorite to finish with less than 87 points (-115). Now that they’ve come this far, the statistical models and the house haven’t adjusted.

Not even that 7-1-2 line in their last 10 hasn’t shifted the odds, but they’re getting points and things are picking up. So, if you want to take a run at the Canadiens eclipsing their preseason projections (which are also still up and bettable at BetUS), we like the odds. The Canadiens are on pace to finish with 88 points.

We also like Martin St. Louis’s ability to will his team forward.

Betting Strategy: It’s always smart to hedge your risks. If you bet against the Canadiens making the playoffs, you’re taking the favored outcome and getting a lesser payout. Consider pairing that bet with a small prop bet, such as which country the Stanley Cup winner will come from.

The US is currently a -300 favorite, but if you parlay that with your Canadiens bet, the payout will be sweeter… unless of course you think the Toronto Maple  Leafs or stumbling Edmonton Oilers can win the Cup.

OK, OK, stop laughing.

That’s why you parlay the bet.