- What: NHL Hockey Regular Season Game
- When: November 23, 2024
- Who: Vegas Golden Knights vs. Montreal Canadiens
- Time: 4:00 p.m. PST
- Where: Centre Bell (Montreal, QC)
As the Vegas Golden Knights prepare to face off against the Montreal Canadiens, the betting odds reflect a clear favorite in the Knights, currently sitting at -165 on the moneyline at BetMGM.
This matchup is shaping up to be a classic case of a team on the rise against one struggling to find its footing. Let’s explain why backing Vegas is the smart play for this Saturday night showdown.
Vegas Golden Knights
First off, let’s talk about the Golden Knights’ recent form. They come into this game with a solid 12-6-2 record, having just edged out the Ottawa Senators 3-2 in their last outing.
Ilya Samsonov was a wall in the net, stopping 38 shots, and the team’s offensive depth was on display with contributions from key players like centers Jack Eichel and Brett Howden.
Eichel opened the scoring early, and Howden, who just signed a five-year contract extension, added another to give Vegas a comfortable lead. This kind of offensive firepower is something the Canadiens will struggle to contain.
The stats don’t lie. Vegas boasts a top-five shooting percentage of 11.8% across all strengths, and they’ve been generating high-danger chances at an impressive rate.
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????: https://t.co/GOujUILu1P pic.twitter.com/3iEcKfFXYP— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) November 23, 2024
In fact, they’ve exceeded 11 high-danger chances in three of their last five games. While they’ve been held to three or fewer goals in those contests, the underlying metrics suggest that they are due for a scoring explosion.
With the Canadiens’ goaltending woes, this could be the perfect storm for Vegas to break out offensively.
The Knights have already proven they can handle the Canadiens, having won both matchups last season. In their last meeting at the Bell Centre, Vegas secured a thrilling 6-5 victory. The high-scoring game showcased their ability to score in bunches.
With the Canadiens’ defensive struggles and the Knights’ offensive capabilities, it’s hard to see how Montreal can keep this game close.
Montreal Canadiens
On the other hand, the Canadiens are sitting at the bottom of the Atlantic Division with a 7-10-2 record. They’ve shown some signs of life recently, winning three of their last four games, but let’s not kid ourselves—this is a team that has been inconsistent all season.
Their recent victories came against the Columbus Blue Jackets and Edmonton Oilers, but those teams are also struggling. The Canadiens’ goaltending has been a significant issue, with their netminders combining for an 88.6% save percentage at five-on-five.
This is a glaring weakness that the Golden Knights are likely to exploit.
Cole Caufield and the @CanadiensMTL host Alex Pietrangelo and the @GoldenKnights at Bell Centre.
Catch the action at 7 p.m. ET on @Sportsnet and Sportsnet+. pic.twitter.com/lMpi58X0pd
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) November 23, 2024
Moreover, the Canadiens are dealing with injuries that further complicate their situation. Key players like left-wing Patrik Laine and defenseman David Reinbacher are on the injured reserve list, and left-wing Rafael Harvey-Pinard is on a conditioning assignment in the AHL.
Their lack of depth will make it even harder for Montreal to keep pace with a fully loaded Golden Knights roster.
While the Canadiens may have a home-ice advantage, it’s hard to overlook that they are facing a team that is better on paper and in form.
Knights-Canadiens Best Bet
Expect the Golden Knights to come out firing as the puck drops at the Bell Centre. They have the momentum, the talent, and the analytics on their side.
Placing your bets on the Golden Knights to win this matchup is a move backed by data, recent performance, and the current state of both teams.
With their offensive prowess and the Canadiens’ ongoing struggles, expect Vegas to secure a victory in Montreal.
The Golden Knights on the moneyline at -165 odds is the best bet in this one.
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Tony Reyes is a sports betting analyst and reporter for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X @TonyParlay.
