NHL Matchup - November 30, 2007

Friday, Nov. 30, 2007

Montreal Canadiens at New Jersey Devils

To say the Montreal Canadiens have their work cut out for them tonight in New Jersey would be an understatement.

The Canadiens face a team that’s won five straight, a team they haven’t beat in almost four years when they meet the Devils at Prudential Center.

New Jersey (12-10-2) has won its last eight games against Montreal (13-8-3), dating back to a 3-2 road loss on March 20, 2004. Since that defeat, the Devils have outscored the Canadiens 29-16, including 12-4 in 2006-07 to sweep the four-game season series.

This is the teams’ first meeting this season. They last faced off on Feb. 14, when the Devils won 5-2 at home.

It’s no secret New Jersey's Martin Brodeur gets a boost playing his hometown team. Brodeur, who’ll start tonight, has a 1.98 goals-against average (GAA) and a shutout while starting each game during the eight-game win streak against the Habs. In 50 career games against the Canadiens, the three-time Vezina Trophy winner is 33-12-0 with five ties, a 1.74 GAA and seven shutouts.

The Canadiens will start Carey Price in net. Price has been hot, going 4-1-1 with a 2.60 GAA and .926 Save % in recent games.

The Devils haven't won six consecutive games since an 11-game run to close the 2005-06 season.

For over/under bettors, there’s a heavy Under trend: The total has gone under in four of Montreal's past six games against New Jersey, Under in 10 of New Jersey's past 13, and Under in four of New Jersey's past six at home.

Betting Line: The Devils are a 140-moneyline favorite at BetUS. The over/under is 5.

Dec. 1, 2007

After losing four straight, the Toronto Maple Leafs will be looking for their second-straight win when they face Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Air Canada Centre on Saturday.

Head-to-head, the Leafs have a slight edge over the Penguins, going 6-3-0-1 in their past 10 meetings. The teams last faced off on Oct. 25, when Toronto beat Pittsburgh 5-2 on the road.

In their last games, Toronto (9-11-6 SU) beat the Atlanta Thrashers 4-2 Thursday night on the road to end a four-game skid. Pittsburgh (10-11-2 SU) has won its past two games, and was to host the Dallas Stars Friday night, the first time the teams have met since 2004.

A note for over/under bettors: there’s a significant Over trend with both teams in recent games, and head-to-head. The Over is 5-0 in the past five meetings between Toronto and Pittsburgh, and 4-0 in the past four meetings in Toronto. The Over is a perfect 4-0 in Penguins past four against Northeast division teams. And the Over is 11-3-1 in the Maple Leafs last 15 home games.

The Leafs could have two players back from injury for the game. Alexei Ponikarovsky, who has missed the last two with a groin injury, participated in a full practice Friday and will decide after the morning skate Saturday if he'll be able to play against the Penguins.

Pavel Kubina, who has been out since Nov. 10 with a knee injury, also practiced and could be inserted into the lineup Saturday, although his return is more likely next week.

The Maple leafs will go with Vesa Toskala in net. Pittsburgh has yet to indicate who will get the start, although Marc-Andre Fleury was slated to play against Dallas Friday night, meaning backup Dany Sabourin, who’s played in almost half the team's games this season, could get the start.

Betting Line: The Leafs are a 120-moneyline favorite at BodogLife. The over/under is 6.

.