Montreal Canadiens vs Pittsburgh Penguins Prediction: NHL Preview
Montreal Canadiens
Pittsburgh PenguinsMore picks
- Period 3: No draw 1.25 won
- Period 3: Not: Montreal Canadiens win and total over 1.5 1.3 won
Match result
Montreal Canadiens 5:4 Pittsburgh Penguins (2:2, 3:1, 0:1)
The NHL match between the Montreal Canadiens and the Pittsburgh Penguins ended in a 5:4 victory, with period scores of 2:2, 3:1, and 0:1. The recommended prediction for this game was "Period 1: Both Teams To Score - No". However, as both teams scored in the first period, the bet lost.
Our prediction: Period 1: Both Teams To Score - No at 1.48 — the bet lost.
Our prediction: Period 3: No draw at 1.25 — the bet won.
Our prediction: Period 3: Not: Montreal Canadiens win and total over 1.5 at 1.3 — the bet won.
Montreal Canadiens host Pittsburgh Penguins at Centre Bell. Montreal is third with 18 points from 13 games; Pittsburgh is 14th with 12 from the same number of games.
Montreal’s current form and personnel
Montreal has won four of its last five games, including three consecutive victories. The Canadiens scored in each and allowed goals in four. Their latest result was a 2:0 away win over St. Louis.
All three recent victories came on the road. At home, Montreal beat Buffalo before losing to San Jose.
Strengths, weaknesses and expected lineup
- Nick Suzuki is out with an upper-body injury and is expected to miss two to four weeks.
- Ivan Demidov will miss the game with a lower-body injury; his return is expected at the beginning of next week.
- Mike Matheson is unavailable with a lower-body injury and will be reassessed when the team returns to Montreal.
The coaching staff tested new forward combinations, and Montreal completed its road trip with a perfect record without those players.
- Dallas Starsaway5:2
- St. Louis Bluesaway2:0
- Winnipeg Jetsaway2:1
- Chicago Blackhawksaway4:1
- San Jose Sharkshome3:4
Pittsburgh’s response after a difficult stretch
Pittsburgh has two wins and three losses in its last five games. The Penguins scored in every game and allowed goals in four.
Three consecutive road defeats against Colorado, Vegas and Utah produced 8 goals for and 16 against. Pittsburgh then recovered at home with a shutout against Florida and a narrow win over Nashville.
Available forwards and defensive absences
- Brian Rust is out with a lower-body injury and will be reassessed after six weeks.
- Evgeni Malkin and Yegor Chinakhov are expected to return.
- Justin Brazeau, Elmer Söderblom, Trevor van Riemsdyk and Ryan Graves are unavailable; Samuel Girard’s status remains uncertain.
Dan Muse said Malkin, Chinakhov and Benjamin Kindel were feeling well and expected to play. The returning forwards would expand Pittsburgh’s attacking options, while the defensive absences reduce depth in front of the net.
- Utah Mammothhome3:4
- Nashville Predatorshome3:2
- Florida Panthershome4:0
- Utah Mammothaway4:5
- Vegas Golden Knightsaway2:6
Head-to-head pattern and goal totals
Across 15 official meetings in the last five years, Montreal has six wins and Pittsburgh nine. Pittsburgh won the latest meeting 6:5, while Montreal won the previous two regular-season meetings 4:0 and 4:3. Both teams scored in seven of the eight listed meetings, and five reached at least seven goals.
The most recent two regular-season meetings in Montreal were split: a 2:9 Canadiens defeat followed by the shutout victory.
- 03.10.2026Pittsburgh Penguins6:5Montreal CanadiensNHL
- 22.12.2025Pittsburgh Penguins4:3Montreal CanadiensNHL
- 21.12.2025Montreal Canadiens4:0Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL
- 12.12.2025Pittsburgh Penguins2:4Montreal CanadiensNHL
- 22.09.2025Montreal Canadiens2:1Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL. Preseason Matches
Team news and pregame context
Montreal’s Halloween event and costume contest are scheduled before the game at Bell Centre.
The tactical question is whether Montreal’s tighter defensive structure can contain Pittsburgh’s attack with its expected forward returns.
Line-ups
Montreal Canadiens
Substitutes: 75. Jakub Dobes
Coach: Martin St. Louis
Pittsburgh Penguins
Substitutes: 37. Artur Silovs
Coach: Dan Muse
Our Forecast
Montreal Canadiens are third in the Eastern Conference with 18 points from 13 matches and a three-game winning streak. Pittsburgh Penguins are fourteenth with 12 points and have won their last two games after three consecutive defeats. Montreal has scored in all five recent matches, while Pittsburgh has also scored in each of its last five.
Montreal conceded 1, 1 and 0 goals in its last three games. The absences of Nick Suzuki, Ivan Demidov and Mike Matheson reduce the Canadiens’ attacking depth and puck-moving quality, while Pittsburgh will be without Bryan Rust. Evgeni Malkin and Yegor Chinakhov are expected to play, but Pittsburgh conceded 5, 6 and 5 goals in its last three away matches. The projected score is Montreal 3:2 Pittsburgh, with the opening period finishing 0:0 or 1:0.
Our selection is Period 1: Both Teams To Score - No 1.48. Montreal’s defensive improvement and the attacking absences on both sides support at least one team remaining scoreless before the first intermission.
Conclusion
Period 1: Both Teams To Score - No 1.48 is the recommended play. Montreal’s recent defensive record and the personnel losses point to a scoreless team in the opening period.
Chances by market estimate
Team form
- Dallas Starsaway5:2
- St. Louis Bluesaway2:0
- Winnipeg Jetsaway2:1
- Chicago Blackhawksaway4:1
- San Jose Sharkshome3:4
- Utah Mammothhome3:4
- Nashville Predatorshome3:2
- Florida Panthershome4:0
- Utah Mammothaway4:5
- Vegas Golden Knightsaway2:6
Standings · Eastern Conference
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | Goals | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Boston Bruins | 15 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 55:36 | 21 |
| 3 | Montreal Canadiens | 14 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 48:42 | 20 |
| 4 | Ottawa Senators | 15 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 49:45 | 19 |
| 13 | Detroit Red Wings | 14 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 41:43 | 15 |
| 14 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 14 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 47:49 | 12 |
| 15 | Columbus Blue Jackets | 12 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 29:39 | 10 |
Head-to-head
- 03.10.2026Pittsburgh Penguins6:5Montreal CanadiensNHL
- 22.12.2025Pittsburgh Penguins4:3Montreal CanadiensNHL
- 21.12.2025Montreal Canadiens4:0Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL
- 12.12.2025Pittsburgh Penguins2:4Montreal CanadiensNHL
- 22.09.2025Montreal Canadiens2:1Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL. Preseason Matches
About the match
- 31 October · 19:00 New York
- Venue: Centre Bell (Montreal)
Odds
odds before kick-off
Market view and goal-line direction
The 1X2 market makes Montreal the favorite: home win 46.1%, draw 21.8%, away win 32.1%. Montreal’s odds have lengthened over the last 24 hours, while Pittsburgh’s have shortened despite its road losses.
The totals market favors six goals or fewer at 54.3%, against 45.7% for the higher total. That favors Montreal’s recent defensive improvement over the higher-scoring head-to-head pattern and Pittsburgh’s road concessions.
BTTS (both teams to score) — yes is the strongest market signal, with a 90.4% estimated probability and shortening odds. The market favors goals from both attacks without favoring the higher total.
Our prediction
- Market
- Period 1: Both Teams To Score - No
- Odds
- 1.49
- Odds at prediction
- 1.48
- Confidence
- Our estimate
- 62%
- Market estimate
- 62%
- Stake amount
- 100 $ · 1.49
- Potential win
- 49 $
- Odds at kick-off
- 1.48
- Status
- lost
- Profit
- −100 $
