It’s an Original Six matchup Thursday night and the second of a back-to-back for the Montreal Canadiens as they visit the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Blackhawks are -208 favourites on the NHL odds with a total of 5.5 goals.
Canadiens vs. Blackhawks NHL Betting Odds
Thursday concludes the regular-season series between these teams. On Dec. 9 at Bell Centre, the Blackhawks were 2-0 winners behind Quebec native Marc-Andre Fleury, who got his historic 500th career win in the shutout. He joined Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy as the only NHL goaltenders to reach 500 career victories, and the Habs fans reacted with such class by cheering Fleury. Interim Blackhawks coach Derek King said he’d never heard a Bell Centre crowd cheer for a visiting player like that.
Fleury is now up to 503 wins and won’t catch Roy (551) this season. He’s never catching Brodeur (691). Jonathan Toews and Henrik Borgstrom had the Chicago goals. Jake Allen had 23 saves in the loss.
Because the teams didn’t play last season and the pandemic wiped out the 2019-20 game in Chicago, Thursday will be Montreal’s first game there since a 3-2 on Dec. 9, 2018. The road team has won seven straight in the series.
Montreal Canadiens
The extremely short-handed Canadiens returned from a long COVID break Wednesday and were predictably routed 5-1 in Boston. Michael Pezzetta had his second goal of the season, but it came with the team already down 4-0. Jake Allen left with an injury in the first period and Sam Montembeault surrendered three goals on 34 shots in relief. Montembeault was to start tonight and presumably will have to because it doesn’t appear there are any other options. The Habs are still down several other players due to protocols and injury. A few did return Wednesday, notably Joel Armia, Mike Hoffman, Jeff Petry and Christian Dvorak. Montreal is 4-11 in its past 15 in the second of a back-to-back.
Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago enters on two-game winning streak, both on the road, after a 4-2 victory as a short favourite on Tuesday in Columbus. Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 24 of 26 shots to improve to 11-11-2 with a 2.88 goals-against average and .910 save per centage. He should be in net Thursday. Alex DeBrincat had two goals and leads the team by a mile with 23 – no one else has more than eight. Blueliner Riley Stillman had two assists and has a career-high three-game points streak. Two of Chicago’s top defenceman, Seth Jones (third on team with 25 points) and Jake McCabe, missed the game in COVID protocols and presumably will not play Thursday, either. Chicago is 1-5 in its past six at home.
NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Canadiens vs. Blackhawks?
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 13 Jan 1:26pm | MON | -1.5 +127 | O +5.5 -110 |
| Closing 14 Jan 1:11am | MON | -1.5 -110 | O +5.5 -106 |
- Regular Season
Canadiens Team Leaders
| Points |
61 |
| + / - |
3 |
| Shots |
188 |
| Penalty Mins |
81 |
| Wins |
9 |
| GAA |
3.3 |
| Points |
92 |
| + / - |
0 |
| Shots |
287 |
| Penalty Mins |
47 |
| Wins |
8 |
| GAA |
3.5 |
- Regular Season
Blackhawks Team Leaders
| Points |
61 |
| + / - |
3 |
| Shots |
188 |
| Penalty Mins |
81 |
| Wins |
9 |
| GAA |
3.3 |
| Points |
92 |
| + / - |
0 |
| Shots |
287 |
| Penalty Mins |
47 |
| Wins |
8 |
| GAA |
3.5 |
Injuries
Carey Price (G)
Joel Armia (RW)
Paul Byron (LW)
Jake Evans (C)
Michael Pezzetta (LW)
Jake Allen (G)
Paul Byron (LW)
Justin Barron (D)
Chris Wideman (D)
Jake Evans (C)
Calvin de Haan (D)
Collin Delia (G)
Mackenzie Entwistle (RW)
Kirby Dach (C)
Collin Delia (G)
Calvin de Haan (D)
Kirby Dach (C)
Connor Murphy (D)
Tyler Johnson (C)
Calvin de Haan (D)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carey Price (G) | Prob Fri | Knee - 25 / 04 / 22 | 1-1 | 2-0 | + - |
|
Price missed the previous game as he was given a break from travel. It is intended that he will return to the crease Friday versus the Panthers. |
|||||
| Joel Armia (RW) | Out indefinitely | Personal - 19 / 04 / 22 | 1-5 | 5-1 | + - |
|
Armia is out of the lineup due to a personal matter, and he will miss an undetermined length of time. |
|||||
| Paul Byron (LW) | Ques Fri | Lower Body - 19 / 04 / 22 | 1-5 | 5-1 | + - |
|
Byron has been absent from the last four games with a lower-body injury, and it has yet to be determined if he will take on the Panthers on Friday. |
|||||
| Jake Evans (C) | Prob Thurs | Undisclosed - 19 / 04 / 22 | 1-5 | 5-1 | + - |
|
Evans sat out the last contest with an unspecified ailment, but it is projected that he will line up against the Flyers on Thursday. |
|||||
| Michael Pezzetta (LW) | Elig Sat | Suspension - 17 / 04 / 22 | 1-5 | 5-1 | + - |
|
Pezzetta has been handed a two-game suspension for an illegal check to the head, and he is eligible to return against the Senators on Saturday. |
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| Jake Allen (G) | out for season | Groin - 09 / 04 / 22 | 3-8 | 6-5 | + - |
|
Allen is idle with a groin injury, and he will miss the remainder of the season. |
|||||
| Paul Byron (LW) | Prob Mon | Undisclosed - 06 / 04 / 22 | 3-9 | 7-5 | + - |
|
Byron has sat out the last two games due to an undefined injury, but it is projected that he will suit up Monday against the Jets. |
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| Justin Barron (D) | out for season | Ankle - 06 / 04 / 22 | 3-9 | 7-5 | + - |
|
Barron will sit out the rest of the 2021-22 season with an ankle injury. |
|||||
| Chris Wideman (D) | Ques Tues | Undisclosed - 01 / 04 / 22 | 4-10 | 8-6 | + - |
|
Wideman sat out the last game with an unspecified ailment, and it has yet to be established if he will face the Senators on Tuesday. |
|||||
| Jake Evans (C) | Prob Thurs | Upper Body - 30 / 03 / 22 | 4-11 | 9-6 | + - |
|
Evans departed the last game due to an upper-body injury, but it is projected that he will play Thursday versus the Hurricanes. |
|||||
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calvin de Haan (D) | Out Fri | Undisclosed - 29 / 04 / 22 | 1-0 | 1-0 | + - |
|
de Haan is dealing with a undisclosed injury, and he will not suit up against the Sabres on Friday. |
|||||
| Collin Delia (G) | Ques Sat | Undisclosed - 22 / 04 / 22 | 2-3 | 2-3 | + - |
|
Delia exited the previous game due to an undisclosed injury, and it has yet to be determined if he will suit up Saturday versus the Sharks. |
|||||
| Mackenzie Entwistle (RW) | out for season | Shoulder - 18 / 04 / 22 | 3-4 | 4-3 | + - |
|
Entwistle is idle with a right shoulder injury, and he is expected to remain sidelined for the rest of the season. |
|||||
| Kirby Dach (C) | out for season | Shoulder - 15 / 04 / 22 | 4-5 | 6-3 | + - |
|
Dach is out of the lineup due to a shoulder sprain, and he will not be available for the rest of the 2021-22 season. |
|||||
| Collin Delia (G) | Ques Mon | Personal - 15 / 04 / 22 | 4-5 | 6-3 | + - |
|
Delia was absent for the last game due to a personal family matter, and it is up in the air if he will be available for Monday's game against the Flames. |
|||||
| Calvin de Haan (D) | Prob Thurs | Lower Body - 12 / 04 / 22 | 4-6 | 7-3 | + - |
|
de Haan sat out the last game with a lower-body injury, but it is likely that he will play against the Sharks on Thursday. |
|||||
| Kirby Dach (C) | Ques Thurs | Illness - 28 / 03 / 22 | 5-11 | 10-6 | + - |
|
Dach sat out the previous contest with an illness, and it has yet to be established if he will suit up Thursday against the Panthers. |
|||||
| Connor Murphy (D) | out for season | Concussion - 12 / 03 / 22 | 10-13 | 14-8-1 | + - |
|
Murphy has been assigned to the long-term injured reserve list due to a concussion, and he will miss the remainder of the 2021-22 season. |
|||||
| Tyler Johnson (C) | Prob Mon | Concussion - 12 / 03 / 22 | 10-13 | 14-8-1 | + - |
|
Johnson has wound up on the injured reserve list with a concussion, but it is projected that he will return to the lineup Monday versus the Sabres. |
|||||
| Calvin de Haan (D) | Prob Thurs | Undisclosed - 25 / 02 / 22 | 14-16 | 20-9-1 | + - |
|
de Haan has sat out the last two contests due to an unannounced injury, but it is projected that he will be active Thursday versus the Oilers. |
|||||
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MONTREAL CANADIENS
1 -
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
3
Score
Prediction
-
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 13 Jan 1:26pm MON -1.5 +127 O +5.5 -110 Closing 14 Jan 1:11am MON -1.5 -110 O +5.5 -106 -
- Regular Season
Canadiens Team Leaders
Points 61
+ / - 3
Shots 188
Penalty Mins 81
Wins 9
GAA 3.3
Points 92
+ / - 0
Shots 287
Penalty Mins 47
Wins 8
GAA 3.5
-
- Regular Season
Blackhawks Team Leaders
Points 61
+ / - 3
Shots 188
Penalty Mins 81
Wins 9
GAA 3.3
Points 92
+ / - 0
Shots 287
Penalty Mins 47
Wins 8
GAA 3.5
-
Injuries
Carey Price (G)
Prob Fri Knee - 25 / 04 / 22Joel Armia (RW)
Out indefinitely Personal - 19 / 04 / 22Paul Byron (LW)
Ques Fri Lower Body - 19 / 04 / 22Jake Evans (C)
Prob Thurs Undisclosed - 19 / 04 / 22Michael Pezzetta (LW)
Elig Sat Suspension - 17 / 04 / 22Jake Allen (G)
out for season Groin - 09 / 04 / 22Paul Byron (LW)
Prob Mon Undisclosed - 06 / 04 / 22Justin Barron (D)
out for season Ankle - 06 / 04 / 22Chris Wideman (D)
Ques Tues Undisclosed - 01 / 04 / 22Jake Evans (C)
Prob Thurs Upper Body - 30 / 03 / 22Calvin de Haan (D)
Out Fri Undisclosed - 29 / 04 / 22Collin Delia (G)
Ques Sat Undisclosed - 22 / 04 / 22Mackenzie Entwistle (RW)
out for season Shoulder - 18 / 04 / 22Kirby Dach (C)
out for season Shoulder - 15 / 04 / 22Collin Delia (G)
Ques Mon Personal - 15 / 04 / 22Calvin de Haan (D)
Prob Thurs Lower Body - 12 / 04 / 22Kirby Dach (C)
Ques Thurs Illness - 28 / 03 / 22Connor Murphy (D)
out for season Concussion - 12 / 03 / 22Tyler Johnson (C)
Prob Mon Concussion - 12 / 03 / 22Calvin de Haan (D)
Prob Thurs Undisclosed - 25 / 02 / 22Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Carey Price (G) Prob Fri Knee - 25 / 04 / 22 1-1 2-0 + - Price missed the previous game as he was given a break from travel. It is intended that he will return to the crease Friday versus the Panthers.
Joel Armia (RW) Out indefinitely Personal - 19 / 04 / 22 1-5 5-1 + - Armia is out of the lineup due to a personal matter, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
Paul Byron (LW) Ques Fri Lower Body - 19 / 04 / 22 1-5 5-1 + - Byron has been absent from the last four games with a lower-body injury, and it has yet to be determined if he will take on the Panthers on Friday.
Jake Evans (C) Prob Thurs Undisclosed - 19 / 04 / 22 1-5 5-1 + - Evans sat out the last contest with an unspecified ailment, but it is projected that he will line up against the Flyers on Thursday.
Michael Pezzetta (LW) Elig Sat Suspension - 17 / 04 / 22 1-5 5-1 + - Pezzetta has been handed a two-game suspension for an illegal check to the head, and he is eligible to return against the Senators on Saturday.
Jake Allen (G) out for season Groin - 09 / 04 / 22 3-8 6-5 + - Allen is idle with a groin injury, and he will miss the remainder of the season.
Paul Byron (LW) Prob Mon Undisclosed - 06 / 04 / 22 3-9 7-5 + - Byron has sat out the last two games due to an undefined injury, but it is projected that he will suit up Monday against the Jets.
Justin Barron (D) out for season Ankle - 06 / 04 / 22 3-9 7-5 + - Barron will sit out the rest of the 2021-22 season with an ankle injury.
Chris Wideman (D) Ques Tues Undisclosed - 01 / 04 / 22 4-10 8-6 + - Wideman sat out the last game with an unspecified ailment, and it has yet to be established if he will face the Senators on Tuesday.
Jake Evans (C) Prob Thurs Upper Body - 30 / 03 / 22 4-11 9-6 + - Evans departed the last game due to an upper-body injury, but it is projected that he will play Thursday versus the Hurricanes.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Calvin de Haan (D) Out Fri Undisclosed - 29 / 04 / 22 1-0 1-0 + - de Haan is dealing with a undisclosed injury, and he will not suit up against the Sabres on Friday.
Collin Delia (G) Ques Sat Undisclosed - 22 / 04 / 22 2-3 2-3 + - Delia exited the previous game due to an undisclosed injury, and it has yet to be determined if he will suit up Saturday versus the Sharks.
Mackenzie Entwistle (RW) out for season Shoulder - 18 / 04 / 22 3-4 4-3 + - Entwistle is idle with a right shoulder injury, and he is expected to remain sidelined for the rest of the season.
Kirby Dach (C) out for season Shoulder - 15 / 04 / 22 4-5 6-3 + - Dach is out of the lineup due to a shoulder sprain, and he will not be available for the rest of the 2021-22 season.
Collin Delia (G) Ques Mon Personal - 15 / 04 / 22 4-5 6-3 + - Delia was absent for the last game due to a personal family matter, and it is up in the air if he will be available for Monday's game against the Flames.
Calvin de Haan (D) Prob Thurs Lower Body - 12 / 04 / 22 4-6 7-3 + - de Haan sat out the last game with a lower-body injury, but it is likely that he will play against the Sharks on Thursday.
Kirby Dach (C) Ques Thurs Illness - 28 / 03 / 22 5-11 10-6 + - Dach sat out the previous contest with an illness, and it has yet to be established if he will suit up Thursday against the Panthers.
Connor Murphy (D) out for season Concussion - 12 / 03 / 22 10-13 14-8-1 + - Murphy has been assigned to the long-term injured reserve list due to a concussion, and he will miss the remainder of the 2021-22 season.
Tyler Johnson (C) Prob Mon Concussion - 12 / 03 / 22 10-13 14-8-1 + - Johnson has wound up on the injured reserve list with a concussion, but it is projected that he will return to the lineup Monday versus the Sabres.
Calvin de Haan (D) Prob Thurs Undisclosed - 25 / 02 / 22 14-16 20-9-1 + - de Haan has sat out the last two contests due to an unannounced injury, but it is projected that he will be active Thursday versus the Oilers.