Montreal Canadiens 2008/2009 Betting Preview

The Montreal Canadiens are hoping to take home the 2009 Stanley Cup and they are in a great position to do so. Their odds were set at +850 to win the Championship. That would result in an $850 payout for every $100 bet at Sports Interaction, which is offering a 15 percent cash signup bonus exclusive to Gambling911.com readers.

Where the Montreal Canadiens will finish:

Bruce Ciskie of the AOL Fan House:

"Yes, Buffalo is going to be improved. Yes, Boston gave the Canadiens all they could handle in that first-round series. However, this is still the best team in the division.

"I don't expect Price to have any troubles recovering from his nightmarish experience against the Flyers. I think the defense will get better because of the talent and continuity, and the offense might actually be more dangerous than it was a year ago. Hard to imagine, yes. But totally possible. Alexei Kovalev might not score 84 points again, but he'll put up solid numbers at the least, and guys like Tomas Plekanec, Andrei Kostitsyn, and Christopher Higgins aren't all likely to fall off together."

From Jessie Campigotto of the CBC:

"The Habs were one of the league's biggest surprises last season in claiming the top seed - in the Eastern Conference, but their notoriously demanding fans will want more this time around. Adding to the pressure will be the team's 100th anniversary festivities, which promise to be no small affair given the Canadiens' knack for celebrating their accomplishments like no other franchise in sports.

"But even with all the pomp and pageantry - including the all-star game in January - it's hard not to like the Habs as a Stanley Cup contender. Price could be even better now that he's got more seasoning, and emerging forwards Tomas Plekanec, Andrei Kostitsyn and Christopher Higgins figure to provide even more scoring punch.

"If Kovalev can stay motivated and the power play can avoid another playoff burnout, the Canadiens could cap their centennial with the biggest party of all."

Gambling911.com's own Ron Raymond has declared "In the Eastern Conference, I believe this is the year the Montreal Canadiens go far into the playoffs."

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Ean Lamb, Gambling911.com