Devils vs Canadiens

Montreal’s form and context make them the side to back on the moneyline at -155, even after New Jersey showed some pushback in Saturday’s shootout loss. The Canadiens have ripped off eight straight wins behind a top line of Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, with Jakub Dobes stabilizing the crease, and they return home still chasing optimal playoff seeding, while the Devils are grinding for a fading wild-card hope on the second leg of a back-to-back. New Jersey’s recent 6-3-1 run and Jack Hughes’ excellent history against the Habs (well over a point per game in the matchup) keep this from being a slam-dunk, but the Devils are also down key pieces like Brett Pesce and Stefan Noesen, thinning a group that already struggles to score compared to Montreal’s top-five offense, and they now have to deal with a Bell Centre crowd that hasn’t seen this kind of momentum in years. Montreal has its own injury list (Alexandre Texier, Kirby Dach, Patrik Laine, Alexandre Carrier), yet their depth scoring with Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov and Lane Hutson driving play from the back end has consistently overcome those absences, and over 60 minutes their shot volume and special-teams edge tilt this matchup toward another Habs win. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 05/04/2026 09:30

The total at 6.5 is aggressive, but the way these teams are playing leans toward another high-event night and points me to the Over at -104. The first two meetings both landed 4-3, and Montreal’s offense is humming at roughly three and a half goals per game with Caufield chasing his 50th and Suzuki flirting with a 100-point season, while New Jersey has quietly pumped in close to four goals per game over its last 10 behind Hughes, Jesper Bratt and Timo Meier. Both sides are on the back half of a home-and-home, which usually means sloppier defensive details and more power-play chances, and each power play has been dangerous enough (low-20s percentage for New Jersey, mid-20s for Montreal) to punish any tired legs or loose sticks. Goaltending profiles as solid but not shutdown—Dobes has been winning, but his underlying numbers aren’t those of a pure stopper, and Jacob Markstrom has been leaky enough that New Jersey often needs three or more to win—which, combined with the Devils’ need to push for offense to keep their playoff dream alive, sets up another game where both teams can realistically reach three. With recent head-to-head trends and current scoring rates lined up, the Over 6.5 gets the nod, though totals volatility keeps this at a straight B rather than a premium grade. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 05/04/2026 09:30

Even while backing Montreal on the moneyline, the historical and current profile of this matchup nudges me toward New Jersey +1.5 on the puckline at -184. Both games this season have finished 4-3, and the broader head-to-head history in Montreal has tilted toward tight Devils wins or one-goal margins, which fits a scenario where the Canadiens’ superior top-six and special teams still edge out a result but don’t consistently run away on the scoreboard. The Habs’ eight-game streak has featured several close calls, and they’re still dealing with notable absences up front and on the blue line, while New Jersey—despite missing Brett Pesce and depth wingers—can roll out Hughes, Hischier, Bratt and Meier in heavy minutes and has been scoring enough lately to force opponents into full 60-minute efforts. With the Devils’ playoff lifeline on the line, you can reasonably expect Sheldon Keefe to lean hard on his stars, shorten the bench, and sell out to avoid an empty-net scenario, which all supports the idea of a one-goal game far more often than not, even if Montreal’s overall quality usually wins out. The price on +1.5 is steep and keeps this at a B-, but in a series that keeps landing on one-goal finals, the cushion has real utility. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 05/04/2026 09:30