Vancouver Canucks vs. Montreal Canadiens Prediction, NHL Odds
The Canadiens are -180 on the NHL odds with a total of 6.5 goals.
Canucks vs. Canadiens NHL Betting Odds
It’s no longer a question of whether Vancouver will deal more guys ahead of the trade deadline but who else? This is a lost season, especially with No. 1 goaltender Thatcher Demko landing back on injured reserve over the weekend. It has been a disappointing, injury-filled campaign for the 2024 Vezina finalist. In a corresponding move, the Canucks have called up Nikita Tolopilo from the AHL. Tolopilo has looked sharp in limited NHL action this season, posting a 2-1-0 record with a save per centage of .911.
Montreal will be adding ahead of the trade deadline if it does anything as the Canadiens try to win the Atlantic Division and improve their Eastern Conference playoff seeding. Not even out of the question they finish with the most points in the East, although not likely. The Habs are currently +1000 to win the Atlantic and have an updated season points total of 96.5 compared to 74.5 for the Canucks.
This concludes the season series as on Oct. 25 in Vancouver, the Canadiens won, 4-3, behind a goal and two assists from rookie Ivan Demidov. Jakub Dobes stopped 28 shots. The Canucks blew a 2-0 first-period lead with Kevin Lankinen in net. Elias Pettersson had a goal and two assists.
The teams have split the past 10 meetings overall, and the over under is 8-2.
Vancouver Canucks
We projected the Canucks to lose 4-3 in Toronto on Saturday, but it was 5-0 in a sixth straight loss. Thatcher Demko was pulled after giving up three first-period goals on six shots for Vancouver. Kevin Lankinen stopped 16 shots in relief. Demko as noted above has since landed on injured reserve. Winger Conor Garland (24 points) missed a fifth in a row with an undisclosed injury and in doubt tonight. Elias Pettersson needs one goal to tie Thomas Gradin (197) for 10th place on the Canucks’ all-time list. Evander Kane leads all active Canucks skaters in scoring against Montreal with 23 points (8G, 15A) in 36 career games. Should be Lankinen in net, and he’s 5-3-2 with a 2.98 GAA and .904 SV on the road. Lankinen is 0-2-1 with a 4.08 goals-against average and an .838 save per centage in three career games against Montreal. The Canucks are 1-4 in their past five road games.
Montreal Canadiens
Montreal had a three-game winning streak snapped Saturday in a 4-0 home loss to Detroit as the Canadiens could not solve John Gibson on 27 shots. It was his first career blanking of the Habs, who lost at home for the first time in five games. Jacob Fowler made 20 saves for Montreal in the losing effort. Blueliner Kaiden Guhle played for the first time since Oct. 16 off major injury. He was scoreless in 18:13. Captain Nick Suzuki played in his 500th straight NHL game to begin his career. Forward Josh Anderson (13 points) missed a fifth straight game and is questionable. Likely will be Sam Montembeault in net tonight. He has won three straight and allowed seven total goals in that span. Centre Oliver Kapanen, the rookie leader in goals this season, has scored four of his 15 in January. He can become the first Canadiens rookie with five goals in a calendar month since Rafael Harvey-Pinard had seven in March 2023. Kapanen is +270 for a goal. Montreal is 5-1 in its past six vs. the Pacific Division.
