PWHL Minnesota is the league’s current points leader but the gap is narrow. In a similar fashion, while legal North American online sportsbooks expect Minnesota to add to that lead on Sunday, they expect a tight contest.
Minnesota visits one of the two teams nipping at its heels on Feb. 18, 2024, PWHL Montreal. The greatest value for the bettors in what should be a close one might be on the goal total markets.
PWHL Minnesota at Montreal details for Feb. 18, 2024
This is the third meeting of PWHL Minnesota and PWHL Montreal on this inaugural season of the league, meaning it’s also the third-ever meeting of the teams. This is the first home game in the series for Montreal, however.
- Puck drop: 1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024
- Venue: Place Bell, Montreal, Quebec
- Broadcast: Canada – RDS (French language) Sportsnet (English language) United States – Bally Sports North, NESN
- Previous meeting: Jan. 24, 2024, in Minneapolis, 2-1 Montreal win
- Last 5 games: Minnesota LWLWW, Montreal LWWWL
- Minnesota points: 21, 7-2-2
- Montreal points: 17, 3-3-2
- Minnesota goal differential: +4 overall, even on the road, +4 against Montreal
- Montreal goal differential: even overall, even at home, -4 against Minnesota
FanDuel Sportsbook has Minnesota a narrow half-goal favorite in this contest despite having won both games against Montreal so far. That’s due to Montreal’s development since the first meeting of these two teams.
Handicapping Minnesota at Montreal
Most of that four-goal differential between these two teams comes from their first meeting. Minnesota won that game 3-0. Since then, Montreal’s Elaine Chuli has developed into the league’s current save percentage leader.
Additionally, Montreal has gotten a total of 11 goals from the combination of Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey. That shouldn’t suggest a Montreal runaway in its first home game against Minnesota, however.
Minnesota’s Nicole Hensley is currently third in the league in save percentage. Additionally, Minnesota forward Grace Zumwinkle’s seven goals are currently good for second in the league. Minnesota might also have an advantage on the power play.
To date, Montreal has yet to score short-handed and has just one power play goal. By contrast, Minnesota has scored twice on the power plan and has registered a short-handed goal. FanDuel’s goal line on this match is set at 4.5 and the better action is on the under. If Chuli and Hensley are on their game, that is very much in play.
