NHL Matchup - November 19, 2007

The Montreal Canadiens are a much-improved team this season, but that hasn’t helped their record against the Ottawa Senators.

The Northeast Division rivals face off Monday night at the Bell Centre, and Montreal enters the contest winless against the Senators in their past five meetings. Ottawa is 7-3-0-0 over the past 10 games head-to-head. Montreal’s last victory against Ottawa was a 3-1 home-ice win on Jan. 29, 2007. The teams last met nine days ago, when the Senators came from behind to edge the Canadiens 3-1 in Ottawa.

A unique feature of tonight’s tilt that favors Montreal, however, is a pre-game ceremony in which legendary Habs’ defenseman Larry Robinson will have his No. 19 jersey retired.

Ottawa (15-3-0 SU) lost its last game, getting shutout 3-0 on the road by the arch-rival Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday night, while Montreal (11-5-3 SU) beat the Boston Bruins 7-4 at home the same day.

Goalie Martin Gerber will get his fourth straight start for Ottawa, while Montreal will go with Cristobal Huet in net.
 
There is a heavy Under trend: The total has gone Under in six of Ottawa's past seven games, Under in five of its past five on the road, and Under in four of its past six in Montreal. And the total has gone Under in five of Montreal's past seven games.

Betting Line: Ottawa is a 120-moneyline favorite at Bodog Life. The over/under is 5½.