Detroit played desperate hockey last night battling back from a 4-1 deficit to take the game to overtime and pick up a 5-4 win. The Wings are tied with the Washington Capitals with 89 points for the final wild spot, but the Caps currently hold the position because they have more regulation wins. Detroit needs to pick up at least a point tonight and need Washington to lose in Philadelphia. The Wings have not made the postseason in seven years. 

The final puck drop from Bell Centre this season is set for 7:00 PM EST and our NHL odds have the Wings as the -165 favourite on the Moneyline. The OVER/UNDER set at an even six goals. 

Red Wings vs. Canadiens NHL Betting Odds

This is the last game of the season for both teams and their fourth meeting of the season. Each of their three meetings has gone into extra time and Detroit has won two of those games. Both games that Detroit has won have hit the OVER, but being listed as the underdog the Canadiens have covered the spread in each game so far. 

For the Wings, Alex Debrincat has put up four points (2G, 2A) in the three meetings with Montreal, while Nick Suzuki (2G, 2A) and Mike Matheson (1G, 3A) have led the way for the Habs. 

Detroit’s offence has been potent over the past three games, scoring five goals in each outing and smashing the OVER in all of them. Their defensive numbers have been the complete opposite as of late, allowing at least four goals in six of their past 10 games. They have the highest goals-against average of any team fighting for a playoff spot giving up 3.32 goals per game, the ninth worst in the league. 

Montreal has been a spread-covering machine this season and they are continuing it through the last week of the season. Despite their current three-game slide, they have covered in each of their past four games boosting their record to a league-best 52-29. The OVER has been common for the Habs lately, posting a 6-2 record over their past eight games. 

Detroit Red Wings

It was absolute chaos Monday night in Detroit as the Wings battled back from down 4-1 over halfway through the game. After the Canadiens scored to make it 4-1, J.T. Compher (19) scored his second of the game just 33 seconds later to cut the lead to 4-2. Alex Debrincat (27) would pot another midway through the third making it 4-3, giving the Red Wings an opportunity with the net empty. With just over a minute to go in regulation after countless scoring chances, Lucas Raymond walked in front of the net from the goal line and scored glove side to knot the game at four a piece. 

Raymond was not done yet, potting his second of the night, 31st of the season with just 25 seconds left in overtime to keep Detroit’s playoff hopes alive. 

Alex Lyon has started nine of the Wings’ past 11 games posting a 2.94 goals-against average in that stretch. With Tuesday’s matchup being the second half of a back-to-back and factoring in the travel to Montreal, head coach Derek Lalonde has a big decision who he will start in goal; Lyon or veteran James Reimer?

Montreal Canadiens

Although the Canadiens were eliminated from playoff contention weeks ago, this hard-working team has been playing meaningful hockey in the last few weeks of the season. Guys are fighting for spots on next year’s team and an already young squad has injected more youth into the lineup for the last series of the year. 

Jake Evans, who will be a fringe for next year, put up a career-high three assists last night versus the Wings. Aging Brendan Gallagher scored a pair of goals for the second time in a week and Josh Anderson notched an assist for the first time since March 5th. 

Canadiens fans have been anticipating the debut of defensive prospect Lane Hutson for some time now and finally got to see him play in the Blue, Blanc et Rouge last night in Detroit. He showed his offensive prowess early on setting up Brendan Gallagher’s goal to open the scoring. Unfortunately, the Habs could not draw a powerplay, so fans did not get to see him quarterback the powerplay like they have been dreaming about. 

On Tuesday, the Canadiens will showcase another anticipated defenceman, recalling 2021 first-rounder Logan Mailloux from the AHL. The controversial defender will skate with the big squad for the first time after a great rookie campaign in Laval. 

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Red Wings vs. Canadiens?

• Regular Season

Red Wings Team Leaders

DET

Points	Lucas Raymond 72
+ / -	Olli Maatta 14
Shots	Alex DeBrincat 237
Penalty Mins	Ben Chiarot 56
Wins	Alex Lyon 21
GAA	Alex Lyon 3.05

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

• Regular Season

Canadiens Team Leaders

DET

Points	Lucas Raymond 72
+ / -	Olli Maatta 14
Shots	Alex DeBrincat 237
Penalty Mins	Ben Chiarot 56
Wins	Alex Lyon 21
GAA	Alex Lyon 3.05

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

Injuries

Detroit

Andrew Copp (C)

Ques Mon Head - 09 / 04 / 24

Moritz Seider (D)

Ques Tues Illness - 09 / 04 / 24

Olli Maatta (D)

Out Sun Upper Body - 06 / 04 / 24

Michael Rasmussen (C)

Out indefinitely Upper Body - 03 / 04 / 24

Austin Czarnik (C)

Ques Sat Illness - 28 / 03 / 24

Patrick Kane (RW)

Ques Sat Illness - 28 / 03 / 24

Jeff Petry (D)

Prob Tues Illness - 25 / 03 / 24

Michael Rasmussen (C)

Ques Tues Illness - 19 / 03 / 24

Jake Walman (D)

Prob Mon Lower Body - 19 / 03 / 24

Joe Veleno (C)

Ques Thurs Head - 12 / 03 / 24

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

Injuries

Detroit

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Andrew Copp (C)	Ques Mon	Head - 09 / 04 / 24	3-2	3-2	+ -
Copp has been absent from the previous two games due to a fractured cheekbone, and it is unclear if he will be available for Monday's matchup with the Canadiens.
Moritz Seider (D)	Ques Tues	Illness - 09 / 04 / 24	3-2	3-2	+ -
Seider is ailing from an illness, and it is unclear if he will be available for Tuesday's showdown versus the Capitals.
Olli Maatta (D)	Out Sun	Upper Body - 06 / 04 / 24	4-2	4-2	+ -
Maatta has an upper-body ailment, and he will not dress for Sunday's showdown versus the Sabres.
Michael Rasmussen (C)	Out indefinitely	Upper Body - 03 / 04 / 24	5-2	4-3	+ -
Rasmussen is out of commission with an upper-body injury, and the severity of the ailment is unknown.
Austin Czarnik (C)	Ques Sat	Illness - 28 / 03 / 24	7-3	5-5	+ -
Czarnik sat out the previous game with an illness, leaving his status against the Panthers on Saturday in question.
Patrick Kane (RW)	Ques Sat	Illness - 28 / 03 / 24	7-3	5-5	+ -
Kane was held out of the last match due to illness, and it is unclear if he will participate in Saturday's battle with the Panthers.
Jeff Petry (D)	Prob Tues	Illness - 25 / 03 / 24	8-3	5-6	+ -
Petry is nursing an illness, but it is forecasted that he will suit up for Tuesday's tilt with the Capitals.
Michael Rasmussen (C)	Ques Tues	Illness - 19 / 03 / 24	9-5	8-6	+ -
Rasmussen is laid up with an illness, leaving his status for Tuesday's tilt against the Blue Jackets in question.
Jake Walman (D)	Prob Mon	Lower Body - 19 / 03 / 24	9-5	8-6	+ -
Walman has been sidelined with a lower-body injury, but it is likely that he will return against the Lightning on Monday.
Joe Veleno (C)	Ques Thurs	Head - 12 / 03 / 24	10-8	10-8	+ -
Veleno was lifted from the last clash with a head injury, leaving his status for Thursday's battle with the Coyotes in question.

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.