Chicago Blackhawks vs. Montreal Canadiens Prediction, NHL Odds
The Montreal Canadiens will enjoy a golden opportunity to rebound from their dismal performance in Tuesday’s 4-1 loss to Philadelphia that extended their season-long woes on home ice when they host the rapidly fading Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night in NHL betting action at Bell Centre.
With Tuesday’s loss, the Canadiens have now fallen to defeat in nine of their past 13 home dates to fall to 8-9-1 on the season. The Blackhawks limp into Montreal on the heels of Tuesday’s 3-2 loss in Toronto that extends their current road losing streak to four games while marking their 11th defeat in their past 14 overall.
The Canadiens lead the way as -185 home favourites on Thursday’s NHL odds while the Blackhawks trail as +150 underdogs. The total is pegged at just 5.5.
Blackhawks vs. Canadiens NHL Betting Odds
The Canadiens skated to a narrow 3-2 victory when they visited Chicago on October 11, snapping a two-game head-to-head losing streak. The Habs have emerged victorious in two of their past three home dates with Chicago, ending a seven-game slide and have averaged 3.33 goals per game over their past three dates at Bell Centre after mustering just one goal per game over the Blackhawks’ previous nine visits. Not surprisingly, the UNDER has consistently paid out, going 10-2-1 in their past 13 meetings in Montreal.
Winners in just two of their past six contests overall, the Canadiens’ defensive struggles have continued, even with the arrival of highly touted rookie goaltender Jacob Fowler. The Habs have allowed at least four goals in four of their past six outings and have surrendered an average of 4.27 goals per game over their past 11 home dates. Fortunately for the Canadiens, goals have come at a premium for the Blackhawks, who have potted just eight total markers while losing five of their past six games and just five total goals during their four-game road slide.
Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks have been hit hard by the loss of Connor Bedard indefinitely due to injury. The club has managed to score just three total goals at even strength while losing three straight, with Wyatt Kaiser accounting for two of those markers. Selected by the Blackhawks in the third round of the 2020 NHL Draft, the 23-year-old rearguard has shown increased confidence while scoring in three of his past five road appearances and has been among the team’s leaders with seven total shots on goal over that stretch. That makes it tough to ignore Wyatt’s +5500 odds on the NHL player props to score again sometime on Thursday night.
However, with Bedard on the shelf, the club’s other top scorers have struggled. Tyler Bertuzzi had been enjoying a renaissance while playing alongside Bedard while scoring 16 times in his first 27 outings, but has been a non-factor during the club’s three-game swoon, going pointless while producing just one total shot in the past two games. Frank Nazar also remains mired in a six-game points drought and has failed to bulge the twine in his past 21 games.
Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens drew first blood with Alexandre Texier’s late first-period goal on Tuesday night, but quickly went missing after the Flyers evened things up just 39 seconds later and managed to record just 10 shots through the first 40 minutes before coming to life in the third period once the contest was out of reach. Texier has looked increasingly comfortable since arriving in Montreal three weeks ago. The Frenchman has scored three times and added an assist during his current four-game points streak and piled up eight shots on net over the past two games.
Things haven’t quite as well for top scorer Cole Caufield, who has bulged the twine just once in the past five games and tallied just one total goal in his past eight home dates. While goals have also been scarce for Ivan Demidov, he has flashed his playmaking abilities while picking up helpers in five of eight outings.
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