
Tonight, the Montreal Canadiens (39-31-10) are set to host the Chicago Blackhawks (23-46-11) at the Bell Centre in an important game for the Canadiens’ playoff hopes. A win of any kind will ensure Montreal secures a postseason berth, while Chicago, having already been eliminated from playoff contention, will look to play the role of spoiler.
.Montreal is one win away from clinching a playoff spot. They’ve surged late in the season with elite goaltending from Samuel Montembeault (2.64 GAA, .912 SV%) and a deep offense led by Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. They’re tough at home and have outscored opponents 35–22 in their last 10 home games.
The Hawks are playing for pride and the draft lottery. Their young core—led by Connor Bedard—has talent, but the team lacks depth and consistency. Defensive breakdowns and poor goaltending (Soderblom and Mrazek have combined for a .892 SV%) have made them an ideal fade, especially on the road.
Last Meeting: Chicago won 4-2 at home on Nov. 30, 2024.
Recent Trends: Montreal has won 4 of the last 5 meetings overall.
At Bell Centre, the Canadiens have outscored the Blackhawks 14-5 in their last three games in Montreal.
Tactical Edge:
Expect Montreal to use its speed and forecheck to pressure Chicago’s defense.
Montreal’s penalty kill has been sharp lately, a potential mismatch vs Chicago’s anemic power play.
Moneyline value exists for a MoneyLine bet on both teams, but the Canadians are the better team at this time and will win this game, and the best bet is a puck line bet on the Canadians -1.5, that bet gets you the best line possible. To find the best line, you need accounts with multiple sportsbooks, and we got you covered as we break down the best sports betting app
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Nick Suzuki (C): 29 G, 58 A – A reliable two-way center, averaging 20+ minutes and QBing the top PP unit.
Cole Caufield (RW): 33 G – A streaky sniper who’s found the net in 3 of his last 5 games.
Juraj Slafkovský: quietly heating up; 7 points in his last 7 games.
Connor Bedard (C): 21 G, 42 A – The rookie phenom continues to dazzle despite limited support.
Philipp Kurashev (LW): Versatile winger with speed, 4 points in last 4 games.
Given Montreal’s recent defensive performances and Chicago’s offensive struggles, the under may be a compelling option.
Bet Montreal -1.5
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