Detroit Red Wings vs Montreal Canadiens Prediction, 12/21/2024 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Detroit Red Wings vs Montreal Canadiens

Date: Saturday, December 21, 2024

Location: Bell Centre in Montreal, QC

TV: TSN

Odds/Point Spread: Red Wings (-275) Canadiens (+220)

The Detroit Red Wings (13-14-4) are hitting the road to Bell Centre on Saturday where they will play the Montreal Canadiens (12-16-3). The odds on this game have Detroit at -275 and Montreal is coming in at +220. The betting total comes in at 6.5.

The Detroit Red Wings had a good night with a 6-4 win against the Flyers in their previous outing. Detroit amassed 2 mins in the box in this game. The Red Wings had a good offensive output in the victory. Additionally, they had 3 power play opportunities and were able to score 1 goal. In the game, they converted 6 of the 24 shots they launched.

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With regard to their scoring capabilities, the Detroit Red Wings have earned 83 goals (29th in the National Hockey League) for the season and have conceded 98. For the season, they have accumulated 30 points and their points percentage is .484. Detroit is sitting with 89 power play opportunities and they have scored 22 goals out of those chances, garnering them a rate of 24.72%. When playing at even strength, the Red Wings have conceded 71 goals while having 61 on offense. Detroit has taken 785 shots and has a shooting percentage of 10.6%. The Red Wings have had 945 shots taken against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .896. Detroit Red Wings opponents have 84 power play opportunities (25th in pro hockey) and have scored 27 goals in those chances.

The player guarding the cage in this matchup is Cam Talbot. The opposition has scored 1,259 goals against Talbot in his pro hockey career and his goals against average per contest is 2.72. Talbot has taken the ice for 502 matchups over the course of his NHL career. His save percentage sits at .914 in his 27,817 minutes guarding the cage. He has earned a mark of 251-182-44 and he was named the starter in 480 games. From the beginning of his pro career to now, Talbot has accrued 267 quality starts and his rate for quality starts is .556. Talbot has seen 14,564 shot attempts taken against him and has garnered 13,305 total saves.

In their last contest, Montreal faced the Sabres in an outing where the Canadiens got the win by a tally of 6-1. The Canadiens tallied 6 goals out of the 27 shots on goal they were seeking. They had 6 power play chances in this outing and scored 3 out of those chances.

Montreal has tried 755 shots (32nd in pro hockey) and has accumulated a shot percentage of 11.52%, while allowing the opposition 918 shots. They have a penalty kill rate of 81.08% on the other teams 111 power play opportunities, and their save percentage is 87.7%. They have a total of 100 power play chances and they have earned a power play percentage of 22.00%. The Canadiens have accumulated 65 goals at even strength and 22 goals (9th in hockey) while having more men on the ice. They have permitted 113 goals to be scored by way of 92 goals at even strength and 21 goals while they were shorthanded. On the season, the Montreal Canadiens are sitting with 87 goals, 27 points, as well as a points percentage of .435.

On the other side of the ice you are going to see Sam Montembeault patrolling the crease. He has a tally of 4,559 saves out of the 5,075 shots attempted, which gives him a save percentage of .898. Montembeault is the owner of a career mark of 59-73-23 and has played in 169 contests. He has started in 152 games and has played for a total of 8,053 minutes. Montembeault's quality start percentage is 53.3% and he has accumulated 81 quality starting assignments in his pro career. Teams are averaging 3.84 goals per contest and he has allowed 516 goals overall.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Guy's Pick: Take Detroit (-275)

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