COLUMBUS (12-7-0-3, 27 pts.) at MONTREAL (11-11-0-1, 23 pts.) - 11/24/2009, 7:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
COLUMBUS is 16-35 ATS (+54.5 Units) after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game over the last 3 seasons.
COLUMBUS is 24-49 ATS (-31.9 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons.
COLUMBUS is 16-7 ATS (+8.9 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
COLUMBUS is 46-37 ATS (+90.3 Units) after playing 3 consecutive road games since 1996.
MONTREAL is 52-57 ATS (-10.8 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
MONTREAL is 27-32 ATS (-14.1 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5.5 over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
COLUMBUS is 2-0 (+3.0 Units) against the spread versus MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
COLUMBUS is 2-0-0 straight up against MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.0 Units)

COLUMBUS vs. MONTREAL
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Columbus's last 5 games when playing on the road against Montreal
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Columbus's last 5 games when playing Montreal
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Montreal's last 8 games
Montreal is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games at home

COLUMBUS at MONTREAL, 7:30 PM ET
COLUMBUS: 16-7 SU in non-conference games
MONTREAL: 7-15 SU at home after 4+ consecutive unders

Columbus Blue Jackets at Montreal Canadiens (-135, 5.5)

In order for the Montreal Canadiens to improve this season, they’ll need to be a lot more disciplined. The Habs were outshot 16-3 by the Red Wings on six power plays including two 5-on-3 disadvantages in Saturday’s 3-2 shootout loss.

Georges Laraque was a liability in the first period of that game picking up a double minor for high-sticking Darren Helm and bringing down Niklas Kromwall with a knee-on-knee hit on the same shift. Kromwall will have to miss at least two weeks with a sprained left knee.

Laraque had a hearing with NHL vice president Colin Campbell on Monday to review his hit on Kromwall, but according to Red Wings GM Ken Holland, the hit was clearly dirty.

“Absolutely,” he said. “Yes, it was dirty. It was knee-on-knee, and I believe knee-on-knee is a dirty play. I don’t know if the referees saw it. I just saw Nik go down and then I got to watch it on TV and video replay.”

The Columbus Blue Jackets own the second best power play in the league with a 25.3 percent success rate. Expect them to take advantage against the often-penalized Canadiens.

Pick: Blue Jackets