Chicago Blackhawks vs. Montreal Canadiens Prediction, NHL Odds
Montreal is a heavy favourite on the NHL odds with a total of 5.5 goals.
Blackhawks vs. Canadiens NHL Betting Odds
Monday almost surely marks Montreal’s last Original Six matchup of the season, including postseason, because four of the six clubs won’t be playing extra hockey in Boston, Chicago, Detroit and the New York Rangers. It’s possible the Canadiens could match up with Toronto in the Stanley Cup playoffs but unlikely.
The Blackhawks were expected to take a bit of a step forward this season in Year 2 with superstar Connor Bedard, and they have been slightly better but not quite the leap that was hoped and it cost coach Luke Richardson his job earlier in the season. The club has gone 15-30-9 under interim head coach Anders Sörensen, which probably means the Swede won’t get the full-time gig.
Bedard has been OK with 21 goals and 42 assists but a minus-39 rating. Again, there’s not yet much talent around him but Chicago has a stellar farm system and will have another very high pick in the 2025 draft this summer. So we might see the Blackhawks jump into Wild-Card contention as early as next season if ownership is willing to spend on some veterans this summer as well.
Chicago eyes the season sweep as it beat the visiting Canadiens, 4-2 on Jan. 3 with backup Arvid Soderblom in net, and he was terrific in stopping 38 shots. Bedard had an assist. Sam Montembeault was in the Montreal net. The teams have split the past 10 meetings overall and the total has landed over just once.
Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago will not catch San Jose for the fewest points in the NHL this season but will finish with the second-fewest and thus have a 13.5 per cent shot of earning the No. 1 pick behind the Sharks’ 25.5 per cent. The Blackhawks played their home finale Saturday and lost, 5-4 in a shootout to Winnipeg with the chance to win back-to-back games for the first time since early March. Connor Bedard had a goal and assist. The assist was his 81st career to pass Eddie Olczyk (80) for the most by a teenager in Blackhawks history.
Chicago veterans Pat Maroon and Alec Martinez each played in their last NHL game with both officially retiring and wanting the finale to be on home ice. Trade acquisition Spencer Knight was in net Saturday and fell to 4-8-2 with a 3.20 GAA and .893 SV since coming from the Florida Panthers and likely starts again Monday. Chicago is 3-14 in its past 17 overall.
Montreal Canadiens
Montreal hasn’t clinched a playoff spot as of this writing but could have Sunday night and if not could on Monday as that last Eastern Conference Wild-Card spot was down to the Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets – if they lost Sunday night at Washington, they were eliminated. In that case, one might assume the Canadiens rest key players on Monday. But if Columbus stays alive, surely not as the Habs would like to lock it down ahead of Wednesday’s home finale vs. Carolina.
And some coaches like to build momentum entering the playoffs. Montreal currently doesn’t have much after dropping a second straight game Saturday, 1-0 in OT at Toronto. It was the Leafs’ 10th straight home win against Montreal, tied for their third longest such streak against a single opponent. Winger Emil Heineman (10G, 8A) missed a fourth straight game injured and rookie Jakub Dobes was in net for that, so it should be back to Sam Montembeault on Monday if the game is relevant for Montreal. He has been much better at home with a 21-11-4 mark, 2.60 GAA and .914 SV. The Habs are 9-1 in their past 10 at home.
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