Jonathan Davis liked the Canadiens to beat the Islanders on Sunday, April 12, in a game that carried playoff weight for both teams and a few betting angles that matched the stakes. Montreal was listed at +100 and New York at -120, with the total at 6 and the over priced at -120.
Davis also pointed to Cole Caufield anytime goal at +115, Nick Suzuki to record a point and Matthew Schaefer over 2.5 shots on goal at +109. He added Schaefer anytime goal at +360, Suzuki to score a third-period goal at +650 and Jake Evans to score in the third period at 20/1.
The case for Montreal was simple enough. The Canadiens were still alive in the Atlantic Division race and could finish second, which would bring home-ice advantage against Tampa in the opening round. To do it, Montreal needed to win its final two games and hope Tampa lost one of its last two. The Islanders came in needing points of their own, sitting three points behind the Flyers for third place in the Metropolitan Division with two games to play.
Read Also: Panthers Vs Canadiens: Montreal hosts Florida with playoffs secured
The numbers also leaned toward offense. The teams had already met twice this season, and both games went over the total. Montreal beat New York 7-3 on March 21, and the other meeting finished 4-3. That history fit the current setup, with the total set at 6 and the over shaded to -120.
For individual props, Suzuki was one point away from his first career 100-point season, giving Montreal another milestone to chase even as it tried to stay in the division race. Schaefer had three goals in the two games he had faced Montreal and was one goal shy of breaking the rookie record for goals by a defenseman in a season, which is why his shots and goal props drew attention.
Read Also: Michael Hage’s strong winter raises questions about when he joins Montreal
The tension is that both clubs arrived with clear urgency, but for different reasons. The Islanders had to treat the night like a deadline because of where they stood in the standings, while Montreal was asking the standings elsewhere to cooperate after doing its own part. Davis backed the Canadiens anyway, and the game had the kind of setting where one hot period could matter more than the pregame number.
