Howard guides Detroit into enemy territory
Detroit has been one of the NHL’s stingiest clubs through the first month season. But is Jeff Blashill’s gang also destined to get shredded by the scalding-hot Canadiens?
Seeking to improve to 10-0-0 at home, Montreal takes on its Original Six rival this evening. Online sports book Bovada.lv gives Carey Price & Co. odds of -200 to prevail. The Red Wings, on the other hand, enter the Bell Centre as +170 underdogs.
On Thursday, Michel Therrien’s troops registered a 4-1 victory over Los Angeles. The top line of Alex Galchenyuk, Alexander Radulov and Paul Byron accounted for two of those four tallies. In addition, the Canadiens (12-1-1) held the perennial Western Conference heavyweight to just 24 shots.
The Red Wings (8-6-1) looked sharp two nights ago, too, toppling Vancouver 3-1. Relishing his third straight start, veteran netminder Jimmy Howard made 36 saves. He should receive the opportunity to face Montreal’s cornucopia of skilled forwards shortly.
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Lost in the fervor over the Habs’ high-scoring ways: Price’s return to form. A knee injury robbed the regular Vezina Trophy frontrunner of 70 games in 2015-16, but he currently ranks in the top three in both GAA (1.56) and save percentage (.951). Don’t be surprised if the Vancouver native flirts with his 38th career shutout here.
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