It could be a wild game on Sunday night as the two bottom teams in the Eastern Conference standing will go head-to-head, with Montreal and New Jersey both playing the second half of a back-to-back.  The Canadiens pulled out a 4-2 win over Toronto at home on Saturday night, while the Devils fell 4-3 in Washington.

New Jersey is a -166 favourite to win on the NHL odds, with a total of 6.5.

Canadiens vs. Devils NHL Betting Odds

This is the second of three meetings between the teams this season and if it’s anything like the first, you can expect some goals.  The Devils crushed Montreal 7-1 at the Bell Centre on Feb. 8, the fourth straight time these teams hit the Over.  The season series will conclude in New Jersey on April 7.

For whatever reason, the Canadiens just seem to struggle against New Jersey as they’ve dropped eight of their last nine games against the Devils.  Montreal is 32-33 against the spread for the season, including an even 16-16 ATS on the road.  The total has gone Over in nine of their last 12 games.

The Devils come into this game with losses in five of their last six games overall, although they have managed to pull out two points in five of their last six at home.  They’re 31-34 ATS overall, with covers in 15 of 32 home games.  The total has gone Over in five of New Jersey’s last six games.

Montreal Canadiens

Montreal owns the dubious distinction of being the first team eliminated from playoff contention this year, but they still managed to frustrate Toronto fans once again on Saturday.  Jake Allen‘s 49-save performance, coupled with goals from Paul Byron, Cole Caufield, David Savard and Christian Dvorak helped the Habs slip by the Leafs for the fifth time in the last six games.  Since returning from a long-term lower-body injury, Allen has started five consecutive games and recorded two 40-save performances.  Montreal was outshot 51-18 on Saturday and only recorded three shots in each of the first and third periods.  Nick Suzuki, who leads the team with 18 goals and 49 points, picked up one assist.

There’s been no official word, but it should be Sam Montembeault in net on Sunday.  Montembeault, who has not played since being pulled on March 15, has a 7-13-5 record this season, with a 3.71 goals-against average and .894 save percentage.  Jonathan Drouin was placed on injured reserve on Friday after re-aggravating a wrist injury and could be done for the year.  Tyler Pitlick and Michael Pezzetta both suffered upper-body injuries on Saturday and have been ruled out of Montreal’s four-game road trip.

New Jersey Devils

The Devils managed to outshoot Washington in all three periods, 38-22 overall, on Saturday, but it wasn’t enough to avoid a second consecutive defeat.  Jack Hughes, Damon Severson and Jesper Bratt scored for New Jersey, while Nico Daws stopped 18 of 22 shots.  Hughes and Bratt are tied for the team lead in goals, with 22 apiece.  Bratt leads the team with 64 points, while Hughes is second with 52.  Hughes has been hot since Jan. 19, recording 32 points (13G, 19A) in 25 games.

Like Montreal, there’s been no official word on a starting goaltender for Sunday, but as it’s the second half of a back-to-back, Jon Gillies should be in line to start.  Gillies is 3-10-0 in 13 starts this season, posting a 3.80 GAA and .884 SV.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Canadiens vs. Devils?

• Regular Season

Canadiens Team Leaders

MON

Points	Nick Suzuki 61
+ / -	Jordan Harris 3
Shots	Cole Caufield 188
Penalty Mins	Michael Pezzetta 81
Wins	Jake Allen 9
GAA	Jake Allen 3.3

NJ

Points	Jesper Bratt 73
+ / -	Fabian Zetterlund 5
Shots	Dougie Hamilton 197
Penalty Mins	P.K. Subban 82
Wins	Nico Daws 10
GAA	Jonathan Bernier 3.06

• Regular Season

Devils Team Leaders

MON

Points	Nick Suzuki 61
+ / -	Jordan Harris 3
Shots	Cole Caufield 188
Penalty Mins	Michael Pezzetta 81
Wins	Jake Allen 9
GAA	Jake Allen 3.3

NJ

Points	Jesper Bratt 73
+ / -	Fabian Zetterlund 5
Shots	Dougie Hamilton 197
Penalty Mins	P.K. Subban 82
Wins	Nico Daws 10
GAA	Jonathan Bernier 3.06

Injuries

Montreal

Carey Price (G)

Prob Fri Knee - 25 / 04 / 22

Joel Armia (RW)

Out indefinitely Personal - 19 / 04 / 22

Paul Byron (LW)

Ques Fri Lower Body - 19 / 04 / 22

Jake Evans (C)

Prob Thurs Undisclosed - 19 / 04 / 22

Michael Pezzetta (LW)

Elig Sat Suspension - 17 / 04 / 22

Jake Allen (G)

out for season Groin - 09 / 04 / 22

Paul Byron (LW)

Prob Mon Undisclosed - 06 / 04 / 22

Justin Barron (D)

out for season Ankle - 06 / 04 / 22

Chris Wideman (D)

Ques Tues Undisclosed - 01 / 04 / 22

Jake Evans (C)

Prob Thurs Upper Body - 30 / 03 / 22

New Jersey

Andreas Johnsson (LW)

Ques Fri Illness - 28 / 04 / 22

Tomas Tatar (LW)

Ques Fri Illness - 26 / 04 / 22

P.K. Subban (D)

Ques Fri Flu - 25 / 04 / 22

Fabian Zetterlund (LW)

Ques Tues Illness - 25 / 04 / 22

Nico Hischier (C)

Ques Fri Illness - 24 / 04 / 22

Jesper Bratt (LW)

Ques Sun Illness - 23 / 04 / 22

Jesper Bratt (LW)

Prob Thurs Illness - 20 / 04 / 22

Ryan Graves (D)

Ques Thurs Face - 16 / 04 / 22

Jonas Siegenthaler (D)

out for season Hand - 08 / 04 / 22

Miles Wood (LW)

out for season Hip - 08 / 04 / 22

Injuries

Montreal

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.

New Jersey

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Andreas Johnsson (LW)	Ques Fri	Illness - 28 / 04 / 22	1-1	2-0	+ -
Johnsson sat out the last contest with an illness, and it is uncertain if he will play against the Red Wings on Friday.
Tomas Tatar (LW)	Ques Fri	Illness - 26 / 04 / 22	1-2	2-1	+ -
Tatar has been held out of the previous two contests due to a non-COVID illness, leaving his status for Friday's matchup with the Red Wings clouded.
P.K. Subban (D)	Ques Fri	Flu - 25 / 04 / 22	1-2	2-1	+ -
Subban has missed the previous two games due to the flu, and it remains to be seen if he will lace up for Friday's showdown with the Red Wings.
Fabian Zetterlund (LW)	Ques Tues	Illness - 25 / 04 / 22	1-2	2-1	+ -
Zetterlund missed the last contest due to a non-COVID illness, and it remains to be seen if he will participate in Tuesday's matchup versus the Senators.
Nico Hischier (C)	Ques Fri	Illness - 24 / 04 / 22	2-2	2-2	+ -
Hischier has sat out the last three games due to a non-COVID-19 illness, and it is up in the air if he will suit up against the Red Wings on Friday.
Jesper Bratt (LW)	Ques Sun	Illness - 23 / 04 / 22	2-3	3-2	+ -
Bratt sat out the last game ailing from a non-COVID-19 illness, and it is unknown if he will partake in Sunday's game against the Red Wings.
Jesper Bratt (LW)	Prob Thurs	Illness - 20 / 04 / 22	3-3	3-3	+ -
Bratt is managing a non-COVID illness, but it is likely that he will face the Sabres on Thursday.
Ryan Graves (D)	Ques Thurs	Face - 16 / 04 / 22	4-4	4-4	+ -
Graves has sat out the last two games due to a chin laceration, and it is undetermined if he will be available for Thursday's tilt against the Sabres.
Jonas Siegenthaler (D)	out for season	Hand - 08 / 04 / 22	6-5	6-5	+ -
Siegenthaler will miss the remainder of the 2021-22 season with a fractured hand.
Miles Wood (LW)	out for season	Hip - 08 / 04 / 22	6-5	6-5	+ -
Wood is expected to miss the rest of the season due to a hip issue.