Yesterday’s Results for Montreal Canadiens vs Washington Capitals

Sean's NHL MONDAY O/U ROUT! 78-51 +$22.2K RUN

Pick: Montreal Canadiens vs Washington Capitals Under 6 (-109) (BetOnline)

Analysis: My selection is on the 'under' between Montreal and Washington at 7 pm et on Monday. With the stakes raised as the playoffs get underway, I expect a more disciplined and defensively-focused effort from both sides in Game 1. Washington had little to play for in its regular season finale and it showed in a 5-2 loss in Pittsburgh, but the Caps chose to rest their starting netminder and gave AHL call-up Clay Stevenson the nod. Expect a far more locked-in performance in front of the home crowd on Monday as the series opens. The Capitals have quietly been one of the league’s stingier home teams, allowing just 2.9 goals per game at Capital One Arena this season. In their last meeting with Montreal, the two teams combined for only five goals in a 3-2 Canadiens win — a tempo that we’re likely to see replicated here. Montreal, meanwhile, limps into the postseason offensively, having scored only 30 goals over its final 11 regular season games. The Habs have been grinding out results with a more conservative style down the stretch and average only 2.9 goals per game on the road this season. If they’re going to make this a competitive series, they’ll have to slow things down and frustrate a more seasoned Caps team that has the playoff edge in experience. With both teams likely to tighten up in this opening-round clash, I believe this total sits a bit too high. Take the under. Projected score: Capitals 3, Canadiens 2.

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