Claude Julien will make his return behind the Montreal bench on Saturday afternoon when the faltering Canadiens vie for a third straight home victory over the visiting Winnipeg Jets.
Julien rejoined Montreal for a second stint as bench boss this week following the firing of Michel Therrien, who guided the team to a worrisome 1-5-1 record in its past seven games.
The Canadiens’ current swoon is their longest of the season, and leaves them without consecutive wins in 18 games. But despite the recent slide, Montreal maintains a four-point lead over Ottawa atop the Atlantic Division standings, and is a solid +1200 bet on the odds to win the Stanley Cup at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
The Jets opened a four-game trip on Thursday with a 4-3 overtime loss in Pittsburgh as +220 underdogs, leaving them with just one victory in their past six contests. However, they have won three of their last five on the road, and have seen the total go OVER in 12 of their past 14 games.
Later on Saturday, the Senators will try to close the gap on Montreal with a fourth straight win in Toronto when they battle the Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre.
The Senators remain in the hunt despite winning just five of their past 11 games, but they have surrendered just five total goals over their past four games, with the total finishing UNDER in each of the contests.
The Maple Leafs have also run hot and cold, following up Tuesday’s 7-1 demolition of the New York Islanders as -139 home chalk with a 5-2 loss in Columbus as +128 road underdogs the following night, but they trail Montreal by just seven points with two games in hand.
Out west on Saturday night, the Vancouver Canucks receive a visit from the Calgary Flames, who embark on a five-game road trip with wins in three of their past four games away from the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Vancouver wrapped up a six-game road trip with a 4-3 loss in St. Louis as a +165 underdog on the NHL betting lines on Thursday, and is winless in two at Rogers Arena during their current 3-8-0 run. However, the Canucks have held the edge in recent home-ice meetings with Calgary, topping the Flames in their past two visits, including a 4-2 win as +110 underdogs on January 6.
Also on Saturday, the Edmonton Oilers open a lengthy six-game road trip in Chicago against a Blackhawks squad that comes off its bye week riding a five-game win streak. The Canucks return to action on Sunday against the Philadelphia Flyers, while the Jets travel to Ottawa looking to end a three-game losing streak against the Senators.
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