The first preseason clash between the Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Canadiens is set to take place at the multi-purpose Bell Centre arena (or Centre Bell), formerly the Molson Centre, in Montreal, Quebec, on October 1 at 19:00.
The second preseason fixture between the Canadiens and the Senators is at 19:00 on October 5 at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ontario. They first play each other in the 2024/25 NHL season at Centre Bell on October 12 at 19:00.
Both teams play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Let’s now dive straight in to determine how the first preseason match will most likely pan out.
Can the Montreal Canadiens beat the Ottawa Senators in their first preseason fixture?
The quickest, easiest, and most reliable way to determine whether the Montreal Canadiens can beat the Ottawa Senators is to check the latest odds on today’s most trusted Canadian online sports betting casino iGaming sites, such as the official Lucky Koala website, which is known for having some of the most highly competitive NHL betting odds.
For example, the LuckyKoala best bets currently recommended for this fixture are for the Senators to win, and for them to win all three periods. Another popular bet is for the Oilers to win the Stanley Cup. For example, at the time of writing, you are looking at the following odds for the Senators-Canadiens’ first preseason match:
• Ottawa Senators to win: 1.62 (decimal odds), -163 (American/moneyline odds), 8/13 (fractional odds). Implied probability rate: 61.90%
• Montreal Canadiens to win: 2.38 (decimal odds), +138 (American/moneyline odds), 11/8 (fractional odds). Implied probability rate: 42.10%
In other words, placing a wager on the Senators to win looks like a relatively safe bet. However, the thing to remember in sports betting and Ice Hockey is that anything can happen to upset the odds.
In other words, betting on the favourite will not always ensure a return on your profit, meaning the odds-on favourites (in this case, the Senators) don’t always win.
With that in mind, in the previous 15 fixtures between the Senators and Canadiens, the Senators have won all 15 matches, so we can safely say that it will most likely be the Senators who come out on top again in their first preseason game.
Who will win the 2024/25 NHL Championship outright?
If you are looking to place a wager on the 2024/25 NHL Championship outright winner, you may want to consider either the Edmonton Oilers (current odds-on favourites), the Florida Panthers (second odds-on favourites) or the Colorado Avalanche (third odds-on favourites).
At the time of writing, you are looking at average odds of around +800 (which is 9.00 in decimal odds) for the Oilers to win, meaning they have an 11.10% IPR, compared to the Panthers’ +900 (10.00, with a 10.00% IPR), and the Avalanche’s +1,000 (11.00, with a 9.10% IPR).
The Edmonton Oilers are also the favourites to win the Western Conference outright, and the Florida Panthers are favourites to win the Eastern Conference outright. Other popular trending NHL bets right now are for Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) to win the Art Ross Trophy, and Cale Makara (Colorado Avalanche) to win the James Norris Memorial Trophy.
Final thoughts
When placing bets on the NHL, stick to reputable online sportsbooks like Lucky Koala, which has excellent reviews and positive player feedback, lucrative bonuses and promotions for new and existing members, hundreds of monthly NHL betting markets, top-notch cyber security measures, and superb customer service and player support services.
Always conduct a fair amount of research into any sporting events you want to bet on to give your wagers a much better chance of success. You can do so by reading the latest sports news, discovering recent forms for both sides, finding out the latest injury updates, and analyzing historical results between the two teams.
Finally, gamble responsibly by setting a reasonable budget before depositing. Doing so will ensure you don’t spend more than you originally planned.
PHOTO: Pixabay