NHL Hockey Betting for December 9, 2015
Short card of hockey action today. Here are our best bets:
BOSTON BRUINS AT MONTREAL CANADIENS:
Boston’s Patrice Bergeron says that it’s still ‘special’ to play in Montreal. This ‘Original Six’ rivalry is enduring but in recent years it’s been very one sided. The Canadiens have won seven straight against Boston. They’ve won 13 of the last 17 meetings overall and six of the last eight at Centre Bell. Despite the Habs’ domination they’re available at a very reasonable price. This is likely due to the absence of starting goaltender Carey Price who will miss at least six weeks due to what the team has described as a ‘lower body injury’ and what is most likely a knee ailment. For now, they’re going to continue with rookie Mike Condon filling the starting goalie role. Condon has been spotty of late but is a very skilled goaltender. There are plenty of alarmists who want the Habs to trade for a starting goalie but that’s a lot easier said than done. Besides, with everyone in the league knowing their situation they won’t get anything approximating a good deal.
Boston has really overachieved to this point in the season. The question heading into the campaign was scoring but they’ve done plenty of that–in fact, they’re #3 in goals per game. Their problem is on the defensive end and that will be their undoing here.
BET MONTREAL CANADIENS -130 OVER BOSTON BRUINS
SAN JOSE SHARKS AT EDMONTON OILERS:
The Edmonton Oilers are in a strange position. They’re one of four teams tied for last place in the NHL with 24 points yet they’re just 4 points behind second place San Jose in the Pacific Division. This is a big game regardless of records or standings as it marks the first time that San Jose has faced their old coach Todd McLellan in his new role as the head coach of the Oilers. Edmonton is in better form having won four of their last five games. San Jose has lost four straight and five of six. This game is obviously a big deal to McLellan and his team sure seems to be buying in to what he’s doing. They’ll be a handful when Connor McDavid returns from his collarbone injury.
BET EDMONTON OILERS +115 OVER SAN JOSE SHARKS