Minnesota at Montreal

Minnesota's three games before Saturday finished 5-1 at Washington, 4-2 at Philadelphia, and 4-1 against San Jose, and none of them reached seven total goals. Saturday's 4-3 overtime loss to Tampa Bay did, with Calvin Pickard in net. Over the full season, the Wild allow 2.26 goals a game, the fewest in the NHL, on 25.6 shots a game, eighth-best. Montreal scores 3.47 goals a game, 10th in the league. Its power play converts at 15.4%, 28th, with eight goals on 52 chances in 17 games, about three chances a game. Minnesota's penalty kill is 12th at 78.3%, so the Canadiens' extra-man chances have produced little. Montreal allows 3.12 goals a game, 16th, and 28.3 shots a game, 20th. The Wild's 3.32 goals a game ranks 13th, outside the top ten. Minnesota's scoring and Montreal's scoring both come from offenses that have to work for their goals against this matchup's special teams. A Canadiens power play that cannot cash in meets the league's stingiest defense, so I'll take the UNDER tonight.