The Montreal Canadiens (24-19-4) and Detroit Red Wings (21-21-5) will tussle in a Thursday contest. The opening puck drop at Little Caesars Arena will be at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Canadiens vs. Red Wingsodds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: Canadiens lead 2-0
Montreal, which defeated the Red Wings on back-to-back days in December (4-3 at Detroit Dec. 20, 5-1 at home Dec. 21) last played Tuesday, topping the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2. The Canadiens are 4-1-0 across their last 5 games. Since Dec. 17, the Habs have averaged 3.71 goals per game in going 13-3-1.
Detroit was on a roll earlier this month, but on Tuesday it lost to the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 in overtime, and it totes a 3-game losing streak (0-2-1) into this Atlantic Division tussle on home ice. The Red Wings have been outscored 11-3 during the skid.
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Canadiens at Red Wings odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:52 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Canadiens +105 (bet $100 to win $105) | Red Wings -125 (bet $125 to win $100)
- Puck line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Canadiens +1.5 (-235) | Red Wings -1.5 (+195)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Canadiens at Red Wings projected goalies
Sam Montembeault (17-16-3, 2.95 GAA, .899 SV%, 3 SO) vs. Cam Talbot (11-10-2, 3.07 GAA, .901 SV%, 1 SO)
Montembeault made 33 saves in the Tuesday win over the Bolts. That start marked a bounceback after yielding 6 goals to the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday. The 28-year-old owns an .886 SV% over his last 6 games.
Talbot last started on Saturday when he was pulled 40 minutes and 5 goals into an eventual 5-1 loss to Tampa Bay. The veteran got off to a good start this season, but he has floundered to the tune of an .873 SV% since Nov. 29.
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Canadiens at Red Wings picks and predictions
Prediction
Red Wings 4, Canadiens 3
Moneyline
Prior to the December back-to-back, Detroit had beaten Montreal in 3 straight.
The Red Wings, who are 5-1-0 over their last 6 games at home, have been outshooting foes of late, and their power play had been on a roll until coming up empty — 0-for-3 — over the last 2 games. From Dec. 27-Jan. 18, the Wings cranked out a 45% figure on the man advantage.
If Talbot gets the nod in goal, he has a career .941 SV% against the Habs. And Montreal counters with some recent-game defensive analytics that do not support the club’s winning ways since mid-December.
BACK THE RED WINGS (-125).
Puck line/Against the spread
These two division foes have played a lot of 1-goal games in their recent history. No interest in trying to leverage Detroit into a big payoff. PASS.
Over/Under
The Over is 4-0-1 across the last 5 Montreal-Detroit contests.
Both clubs have been yielding more high-danger scoring chances of late in 5-on-5 play. The Red Wings own a dangerous power play and a shaky penalty kill. The Canadiens’ defensive analytics of late have not been at all impressive, and this goaltending matchup doesn’t push back against an Over lean.
TAKE THE OVER 6 (-105).
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