Montreal won’t be making the playoffs for the third successive year, but that doesn’t mean they can’t give its fanbase something to cheer about, such as the 9-3 annihilation of the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday at home. They carry that swagger to New York where a hungry Islanders squad awaits. The latter are fighting for their playoff lives and last defeated the Rangers 4-2 on Tuesday.

The Islanders are favoured by the NHL odds, currently priced at -210 on the moneyline.

Canadiens vs. Islanders NHL Betting Odds

The Islanders will want to bring their best stuff to the ice on Thursday night. Montreal tends to get the better of them, having claimed three of the last four matches. That includes the first two meetings of the present campaign. As the Isles desperately cling to a Wild Card spot, the last thing head coach Patrick Roy needs is the Montreal Canadiens of all teams to obliterate playoff dreams.

There is something to be said about how a team in last place of its division can have a record against the spread as stellar as 49-29. As poor as the season has been overall, at least the Habs have been able to keep enough defeats relatively close. Caufield has a five-game point streak, Suzuki six points in five games, and Slafkovsky seven points in five matches. Arber Xhekaj’s season could be over as he’s currently listed on IR, and Kaiden Guhle is day-to-day.

The Islanders have looked completely lost at times, then like world beaters, then lost again before putting the pedal to the metal as we reach the regular season home stretch. Winners of five straight, Roy has his ensemble playing its best hockey at just the right time. Furthermore, the team has covered the puckline in four of its last five opportunities. Noah Dobson is on a three-game point streak, while Mathew Barzal had notched at least one point in five straight outings.

Montreal Canadiens

There aren’t that many nights from the 2023-24 season that Montreal Canadiens fans will remember fondly, but Tuesday, April 9 at home to the Flyers will be one of them. They put on a display fans hadn’t seen in some time and, more critically, hinted at what the future might hold.

The 9-3 drubbing of Philadelphia was all about the potential stars of tomorrow making an impact today. Samuel Montembeault shielded his net against 33 of the 36 shots fired in his direction. Juraj Slafkovsky, the recipient of so much criticism up until recently, netted a hat trick (17^th, 18^th, and 19^th), team nominee for the Masterton Trophy Joel Armia scored his 17^th, and Caufield and Suzuki continued to notch points via assists. Final scores of 9-3 don’t happen very often, especially courtesy of a side that’s had such a rough campaign.

New York Islanders

Tuesday’s match was highly satisfactory for the Islanders and their fans. The club needed to preserve its position in the Eastern Conference since they sit in a Wild Card spot. Better still, they got to be the cause of a setback for the Rangers, who are in line to finish first overall in the NHL.

Things started brilliantly, with the hosts netting three times in the opening period. Deflections and tip-ins were the method of choice on goals by Mike Reilly (sixth) and Bo Horvat (33^rd). Kyle Palmieri (27^th) was in the right place at the right time as he received the puck in the crease in front of a gaping net as a sprawling Igor Shesterkin was out of place. The visitors didn’t go down without a fight, scoring twice to make it a 3-2 game, but thankfully Semyon Varlamov stood tall, making 31 saves off 33 shots.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Canadiens vs. Islanders?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Canadiens Team Leaders

MON

Points	Nick Suzuki 77
+ / -	Johnathan Kovacevic 11
Shots	Cole Caufield 314
Penalty Mins	Arber Xhekaj 81
Wins	Sam Montembeault 16
GAA	Cayden Primeau 2.99

NYI

Points	Mathew Barzal 80
+ / -	Alexander Romanov 23
Shots	Brock Nelson 250
Penalty Mins	Anders Lee 68
Wins	Ilya Sorokin 25
GAA	Semyon Varlamov 2.6

MON

Points
+ / -
Shots	Did not qualify
Penalty Mins
Wins
GAA

NYI

Points	Mathew Barzal 5
+ / -	Alexander Romanov 2
Shots	Bo Horvat 20
Penalty Mins	Matt Martin 16
Wins	Semyon Varlamov 1
GAA	Semyon Varlamov 2.7

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Islanders Team Leaders

MON

Points	Nick Suzuki 77
+ / -	Johnathan Kovacevic 11
Shots	Cole Caufield 314
Penalty Mins	Arber Xhekaj 81
Wins	Sam Montembeault 16
GAA	Cayden Primeau 2.99

NYI

Points	Mathew Barzal 80
+ / -	Alexander Romanov 23
Shots	Brock Nelson 250
Penalty Mins	Anders Lee 68
Wins	Ilya Sorokin 25
GAA	Semyon Varlamov 2.6

MON

Points
+ / -
Shots	Did not qualify
Penalty Mins
Wins
GAA

NYI

Points	Mathew Barzal 5
+ / -	Alexander Romanov 2
Shots	Bo Horvat 20
Penalty Mins	Matt Martin 16
Wins	Semyon Varlamov 1
GAA	Semyon Varlamov 2.7

Injuries

Montreal

Arber Xhekaj (D)

out for season Shoulder - 06 / 04 / 24

Kaiden Guhle (D)

Out indefinitely Upper Body - 04 / 04 / 24

Kaiden Guhle (D)

Elig Tues Suspension - 29 / 03 / 24

Joshua Roy (RW)

Mid May Upper Body - 20 / 03 / 24

Juraj Slafkovsky (LW)

Ques Tues Undisclosed - 05 / 03 / 24

Colin White (C)

Prob Thurs Upper Body - 05 / 03 / 24

Johnathan Kovacevic (D)

Prob Tues Undisclosed - 03 / 03 / 24

Jake Evans (C)

Prob Tues Undisclosed - 26 / 02 / 24

Jayden Struble (D)

Prob Tues Lower Body - 22 / 02 / 24

Kaiden Guhle (D)

Prob Tues Undisclosed - 11 / 02 / 24

NY Islanders

Matt Martin (LW)

Ques Thurs Lower Body - 27 / 04 / 24

Matt Martin (LW)

Ques Thurs Undisclosed - 25 / 04 / 24

Pierre Engvall (LW)

Out Wed Rest - 17 / 04 / 24

Hudson Fasching (RW)

Out Wed Rest - 17 / 04 / 24

Jean-Gabriel Pageau (C)

Ques Mon Lower Body - 17 / 04 / 24

Noah Dobson (D)

Prob Sat Upper Body - 11 / 04 / 24

Matt Martin (LW)

Ques Sat Undisclosed - 11 / 04 / 24

Matt Martin (LW)

Ques Thurs Lower Body - 11 / 03 / 24

Matt Martin (LW)

Prob Tues Undisclosed - 03 / 03 / 24

Scott Mayfield (D)

out for season Lower Body - 24 / 02 / 24

Injuries

Montreal

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Arber Xhekaj (D)	out for season	Shoulder - 06 / 04 / 24	4-3	5-2	+ -
Xhekaj will miss the remainder of the 2023-24 season after undergoing left shoulder surgery.
Kaiden Guhle (D)	Out indefinitely	Upper Body - 04 / 04 / 24	5-3	6-2	+ -
Guhle will miss an undetermined length of time with an upper-body injury.
Kaiden Guhle (D)	Elig Tues	Suspension - 29 / 03 / 24	6-4	6-4	+ -
Guhle is serving a one-game suspension for slashing, and he is eligible to return against the Panthers on Tuesday.
Joshua Roy (RW)	Mid May	Upper Body - 20 / 03 / 24	9-6	8-7	+ -
Roy is out of commission due to an upper-body injury, and he is expected to miss four to six weeks.
Juraj Slafkovsky (LW)	Ques Tues	Undisclosed - 05 / 03 / 24	14-7	10-11	+ -
Slafkovsky has an unknown issue, and it is uncertain if he will lace up for Tuesday's battle with the Predators.
Colin White (C)	Prob Thurs	Upper Body - 05 / 03 / 24	14-7	10-11	+ -
White is on the injured reserve list due to an upper-body injury, but it is likely that he will return against the Bruins on Thursday.
Johnathan Kovacevic (D)	Prob Tues	Undisclosed - 03 / 03 / 24	14-7	10-11	+ -
Kovacevic has been absent from the last three games with an unknown injury, but he is likely to lace up Tuesday versus the Blue Jackets.
Jake Evans (C)	Prob Tues	Undisclosed - 26 / 02 / 24	17-7	12-11-1	+ -
Evans is battling an undefined issue, but it is likely that he will dress for Tuesday's tilt versus the Coyotes.
Jayden Struble (D)	Prob Tues	Lower Body - 22 / 02 / 24	18-8	12-13-1	+ -
Struble has been absent from the previous four games with a lower-body injury, but it is likely that he will face the Predators on Tuesday.
Kaiden Guhle (D)	Prob Tues	Undisclosed - 11 / 02 / 24	21-10	15-15-1	+ -
Guhle is nursing an unspecified injury, but it is likely that he will face the Ducks on Tuesday.

NY Islanders

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Matt Martin (LW)	Ques Thurs	Lower Body - 27 / 04 / 24	2-0	0-2	+ -
Martin is dealing with a lower-body injury, and it is unknown if he will be available for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Hurricanes.
Matt Martin (LW)	Ques Thurs	Undisclosed - 25 / 04 / 24	2-1	1-2	+ -
Martin is dealing with an undefined issue, and it is undetermined if he will take on the Hurricanes in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Pierre Engvall (LW)	Out Wed	Rest - 17 / 04 / 24	4-2	2-4	+ -
Engvall will not be active for Wednesday's matchup with the Penguins as he will be given a day of rest.
Hudson Fasching (RW)	Out Wed	Rest - 17 / 04 / 24	4-2	2-4	+ -
Fasching will not be available for Wednesday's contest with the Penguins as he will receive a day of rest.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau (C)	Ques Mon	Lower Body - 17 / 04 / 24	4-2	2-4	+ -
Pageau is limited due to a lower-body issue, and it remains to be seen if he will play against the Hurricanes in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Noah Dobson (D)	Prob Sat	Upper Body - 11 / 04 / 24	6-3	3-6	+ -
Dobson is managing an upper-body injury, but it is forecasted that he will partake in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Hurricanes.
Matt Martin (LW)	Ques Sat	Undisclosed - 11 / 04 / 24	6-3	3-6	+ -
Martin was lifted from the previous game with an unknown injury, leaving his status for Saturday's battle with the Rangers in question.
Matt Martin (LW)	Ques Thurs	Lower Body - 11 / 03 / 24	12-12	9-14-1	+ -
Martin was absent from the previous match with a lower-body injury, and it is unknown if he will partake in Thursday's tilt against the Sabres.
Matt Martin (LW)	Prob Tues	Undisclosed - 03 / 03 / 24	16-12	11-14-3	+ -
Martin exited the previous match with an unknown ailment, but it is not expected to affect his status for Tuesday's tilt with the Blues.
Scott Mayfield (D)	out for season	Lower Body - 24 / 02 / 24	17-14	11-17-3	+ -
Mayfield has hit the long-term injured reserve list while recovering from surgery to address a lower-body injury, and he will miss the rest of the season.