The Habs broke a two-game skid with a much needed 2-1 overtime victory against the Islanders on Tuesday, but they still sit dead last in the Eastern Conference standings. Things haven’t gone any better for Nashvile. The Predators’ losing streak was extended to five games with a 3-2 defeat in Toronto on Wednesday, pushing them to 15th place in the West.

Nashville is a slim -130 favourite to win on the NHL odds, with the total set at 6.0.

Predators vs. Canadiens NHL Betting Odds

These teams split the season series last year, with the road team claiming each victory. Both games were decided by a single goal.

Nashville and Montreal have each been middling cover options this year. The Preds are 12-14 against the spread, while the Habs are 13-12 ATS.

It’s clearly been a struggle for Nashville. They’ve lost 10 of their last 11 road games and they are 0-7 in their last seven against Eastern Conference opponents. The one positive trend for the Predators is their 8-3 record in their last 11 games against Montreal.

You might want to bank on a low scoring game on Thursday as the total has gone Under in six of Nashville’s last seven games overall, while the Habs have played the Under in five of their last six at home.

Nashville Predators

It’s has to be a frustrating stretch for the Predators as they’ve lost four straight games by a single goal, with three of those losses coming in overtime. They almost salvaged a point in Toronto on Tuesday with a late comeback bid falling short. Mark Jankowski and Jonathan Marchessault scored for the Predators, while Juuse Saros made 25 saves. Roman Josi, who leads the team with 23 points (7G, 16A), notched an assist.

With Saros playing on Wednesday, it could be the Nashville debut of Justus Annunen on Thursday. The Predators traded for Annunen and a sixth-round draft pick from Colorado on Saturday in exchange for Scott Wedgewood. The 24-year-old Annunen offers better value as a younger goalie, but he hasn’t had a great year, posting a 6-4-0 record with a 3.23 goals-against average and .872 save percentage. He was pulled early in two of his last three starts with the Avalanche and he’s allowed at least three goals in five of his last six games.

Montreal Canadiens

Patrik Laine made a quick impact in his season debut on Tuesday. Laine, who missed the first two months of the year with a knee injury, opened the scoring on the power play midway through the second period. Nick Suzuki won the game in overtime. Because of injuries and time spent in the Players Assistance Program, Laine hadn’t played a regular season game since December 14 of last year, but the former 44-goal scorer has become an immediate fan favourite in Montreal.

Sam Montembeault was solid against the Islanders, turning aside 30 of 31 shots faced. Montembeault, who was just named to Canada’s 4 Nations Face-off roster, sports a 7-10-2 record with a 2.99 GAA and .901 SV. Two other Habs players will have some motivation after being snubbed for the 4 Nations. Suzuki, who leads Montreal with 26 points (10G, 16), was left off Canada’s roster and Cole Caufield, who is tied for third in the NHL with 16 goals, didn’t crack the American team.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Predators vs. Canadiens?

• Regular Season

Predators Team Leaders

NAS

Points	Filip Forsberg 35
+ / -	Nick Blankenburg 8
Shots	Filip Forsberg 141
Penalty Mins	Michael McCarron 41
Wins	Juuse Saros 9
GAA	Justus Annunen 2.28

MON

Points	Nick Suzuki 43
+ / -	Jake Evans 7
Shots	Cole Caufield 125
Penalty Mins	Arber Xhekaj 57
Wins	Sam Montembeault 15
GAA	Jakub Dobes 0.97

• Regular Season

Canadiens Team Leaders

NAS

Points	Filip Forsberg 35
+ / -	Nick Blankenburg 8
Shots	Filip Forsberg 141
Penalty Mins	Michael McCarron 41
Wins	Juuse Saros 9
GAA	Justus Annunen 2.28

MON

Points	Nick Suzuki 43
+ / -	Jake Evans 7
Shots	Cole Caufield 125
Penalty Mins	Arber Xhekaj 57
Wins	Sam Montembeault 15
GAA	Jakub Dobes 0.97

Injuries

Nashville

Luke Evangelista (RW)

Out indefinitely Lower Body - 08 / 01 / 25

Steven Stamkos (C)

Ques Sat Undisclosed - 08 / 01 / 25

Tommy Novak (C)

Ques Tue Upper Body - 03 / 01 / 25

Zachary L'Heureux (LW)

Ques Sat Suspension - 02 / 01 / 25

Jeremy Lauzon (D)

Out indefinitely Lower Body - 01 / 01 / 25

Adam Wilsby (D)

Out indefinitely Upper Body - 01 / 01 / 25

Cole Smith (LW)

Out indefinitely Lower Body - 23 / 12 / 24

Roman Josi (D)

Out indefinitely Lower Body - 10 / 12 / 24

Alexandre Carrier (D)

Out indefinitely Upper Body - 08 / 12 / 24

Ryan O'Reilly (C)

Ques Thurs Lower Body - 05 / 12 / 24

Montreal

Alex Newhook (C)

Ques Tues Flu - 13 / 01 / 25

David Savard (D)

Ques Sat Upper Body - 03 / 01 / 25

David Savard (D)

Ques Sat Upper Body - 12 / 12 / 24

Alexandre Carrier (D)

Out indefinitely Upper Body - 08 / 12 / 24

Kaiden Guhle (D)

Ques Sat Illness - 05 / 12 / 24

Mike Matheson (D)

Ques Sat Lower Body - 26 / 11 / 24

David Savard (D)

Out Sun Upper Body - 17 / 11 / 24

Juraj Slafkovsky (LW)

Ques Tues Head - 03 / 11 / 24

Josh Anderson (RW)

Ques Sun Lower Body - 27 / 10 / 24

Justin Barron (D)

Que Thur Upper Body - 23 / 10 / 24

Injuries

Nashville

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Luke Evangelista (RW)	Out indefinitely	Lower Body - 08 / 01 / 25	1-2	1-2	+ -
Evangelista is dealing with a lower body injury, and it is unknown when he will be active again.
Steven Stamkos (C)	Ques Sat	Undisclosed - 08 / 01 / 25	1-2	1-2	+ -
Stamkos is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and it is unclear if he will suit up against the Capitals on Saturday.
Tommy Novak (C)	Ques Tue	Upper Body - 03 / 01 / 25	2-3	2-3	+ -
Novak is dealing with an upper body injury, and it is uncertain if he will play against the Jets on Tuesday.
Zachary L'Heureux (LW)	Ques Sat	Suspension - 02 / 01 / 25	2-3	2-3	+ -
L'Heureux is facing a three game suspension for slew-footing, and it is unclear if he will suit up against the Capitals on Saturday.
Jeremy Lauzon (D)	Out indefinitely	Lower Body - 01 / 01 / 25	2-4	2-4	+ -
Lauzon has landed on the injured reserve list with a lower body injury, and it is unknown when he will be active again.
Adam Wilsby (D)	Out indefinitely	Upper Body - 01 / 01 / 25	2-4	2-4	+ -
Wilsby has been placed on injured reserve with an upper body injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
Cole Smith (LW)	Out indefinitely	Lower Body - 23 / 12 / 24	4-5	4-5	+ -
Smith has landed on the injury reserve list due to a lower-body injury, and it is unknown when he will return to action.
Roman Josi (D)	Out indefinitely	Lower Body - 10 / 12 / 24	6-9	7-8	+ -
Josi is dealing with a lower body injury, and he will miss an extended period.
Alexandre Carrier (D)	Out indefinitely	Upper Body - 08 / 12 / 24	6-9	7-8	+ -
Carrier has been placed on injured reserve due to a upper body injury, and he will miss an extended period.
Ryan O'Reilly (C)	Ques Thurs	Lower Body - 05 / 12 / 24	8-10	7-11	+ -
O'Reilly is hampered by a lower body injury, and it has yet to be established if he will be active against the Stars on Thursday.

Montreal

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Alex Newhook (C)	Ques Tues	Flu - 13 / 01 / 25	2-0	0-2	+ -
Newhook is dealing with a flu, and it is unclear if he will dress against the Hockey Club on Tuesday.
David Savard (D)	Ques Sat	Upper Body - 03 / 01 / 25	5-1	1-4-1	+ -
Savard is dealing with an upper body, and it is unclear if he will face the Stars on Saturday.
David Savard (D)	Ques Sat	Upper Body - 12 / 12 / 24	11-4	6-6-3	+ -
Savard is dealing with an upper body injury, and it is undetermined if he will dress against the Jets on Saturday.
Alexandre Carrier (D)	Out indefinitely	Upper Body - 08 / 12 / 24	11-5	6-6-4	+ -
Carrier has been placed on injured reserve due to a upper body injury, and he will miss an extended period.
Kaiden Guhle (D)	Ques Sat	Illness - 05 / 12 / 24	13-5	6-8-4	+ -
Guhle sat out the game due to illness, and it is unclear if he will play against the Capitals on Saturday.
Mike Matheson (D)	Ques Sat	Lower Body - 26 / 11 / 24	16-7	10-9-4	+ -
Matheson missed the last game managing a lower body injury, and it is up in the air if he will dress against the Rangers on Saturday.
David Savard (D)	Out Sun	Upper Body - 17 / 11 / 24	18-7	10-11-4	+ -
Savard is battling with a upper body injury, and he is not expected to play against Columbus on Sunday.
Juraj Slafkovsky (LW)	Ques Tues	Head - 03 / 11 / 24	20-11	12-15-4	+ -
Slafkovsky left the game due to head injury, and it is unknown if he will play against the Flames on Tuesday.
Josh Anderson (RW)	Ques Sun	Lower Body - 27 / 10 / 24	22-13	16-15-4	+ -
Anderson is battling a lower-body injury, and it is undetermined if he will take the court against the Flyers on Sunday.
Justin Barron (D)	Que Thur	Upper Body - 23 / 10 / 24	22-14	17-15-4	+ -
Barron exited the contest after receiving a high hit, and it is unclear if he will play against the Capitals on Thursday.