The Ottawa Senators avoided a humiliating series sweep at the hands of the Montreal Canadiens, thanks to the Sens’ Game 4 win on Wednesday. With another do-or-die game awaiting the Senators, will they dig deep again to win and prolong their season? Or will the Canadiens send Ottawa crashing out of the playoffs? Read on for more about this game below. You can also click here for our preview of Game 5 of the series between Penguins and Rangers.
[sc:NHLArticles ]Ottawa Senators vs. Montreal Canadiens Betting Preview
Series Scores & Schedule
Game 1 — April 15, 7:00 PM ET, Ottawa Senators 3 at Montreal Canadiens 4
Game 2 — April 17, 7:00 PM ET, Ottawa Senators 2 at Montreal Canadiens 3 (OT)
Game 3 — April 19, 7:00 PM ET, Montreal Canadiens 2 (OT) at Ottawa Senators 1
Game 4 — April 22, 7:00 PM ET, Montreal Canadiens 0 at Ottawa Senators 1
Game 5 — April 24, 7:00 PM ET, Ottawa Senators at Montreal Canadiens — view all NHL lines
Game 6* — April 26, Time TBD, Montreal Canadiens at Ottawa Senators
Game 7* — April 28, Time TBD, Ottawa Senators at Montreal Canadiens
*If necessary
Betting on the Ottawa Senators
The senate is still in session, as the Sens will get to see another day after beating Montreal on Wednesday, 1-0. Mike Hoffman delivered the game-winning goal for Ottawa in Game 4, breaking a scoreless tie in the third period. It was the first goal in this postseason by Hoffman, who led the team in scoring in the regular season with 27 goals.
[sc:NHL240 ]Ottawa has had difficulties scoring over the last two games, wherein the Sens scored just one goal. On Friday, the Senators will look to be more productive on offense as they find themselves in Bell Centre, where they scored five total goals in the first two games of the series. This time, however, they’ll likely return there with a different goalie in Craig Anderson.
Anderson has played great since taking over as the starting goalie in Game 3. He’s allowed just two goals on 77 combined shots faced in Game 3 and Game 4. By stopping all of Montreal’s 28 shots in Game 4, Anderson may have given coach Dave Cameron enough confidence to give the 11-year veteran netminder the start again on Friday. Ottawa is 3-1 in Anderson’s last four starts in Montreal.
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Betting on the Montreal Canadiens
Carey Price did everything within his power to keep Montreal’s chances for a first round sweep alive. The sweep didn’t materialize, however, as the Habs fell victim to their offense’s ineptness in Game 4.
After the Habs loss on Wednesday, it has become clear that Price can’t do it all. Price stopped 31 of the 32 shots he faced in Game 4, bringing his playoff save percentage to .946. With Anderson managing to match the Vezina Trophy candidate’s exploits, offense became the difference in Game 4. That might be the same story in Game 5, especially if Craig Anderson continues to be hot in between the pipes.
For the Habs to close out the series on Friday, Price will need his teammates to regain their relentlessness on offense. After taking 39 shots or more in each of the first three games of the series, Montreal only had a relatively fewer 28 shots in Game 4.
P.K. Subban leads the team in points and assists this postseason, as he currently has a goal and two assists. He only had two shots on Wednesday, though. Max Pacioretty and Tomas Plekanec, meanwhile, fired 10 shots combined in Game 4.
Montreal is 4-1 in its last five home games against Ottawa.
Writer’s Prediction
Montreal wins, 4-2.
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