Red Wings vs Canadiens

The Detroit Red Wings enter this crucial matchup against the Montreal Canadiens with renewed vigor, having secured a 2-1 victory over the Florida Panthers in their most recent game. Captain Dylan Larkin has been instrumental in this resurgence, contributing significantly with his offensive prowess. Historically, Larkin has performed well against Montreal, tallying 19 points in 21 career games. In contrast, the Canadiens are on a five-game winning streak, solidifying their position in the Eastern Conference's second wild-card spot. Montreal's captain, Nick Suzuki, has been a driving force during this stretch, extending his multi-point game streak to four and amassing nine points in that span. The Canadiens' goaltender, Sam Montembeault, has also been in excellent form, securing four consecutive victories and allowing two goals or fewer in each of those games. With both teams vying for playoff positioning and exhibiting strong recent form, this matchup presents a compelling contest. Given the Canadiens' home advantage and current momentum, they may hold a slight edge. However, the Red Wings' determination to close the gap in the wild-card race cannot be underestimated. Considering these factors, this moneyline play is assigned a B grade, reflecting a balanced risk with potential value. Odds and availability are subject to change.

With Dylan Larkin clicking on all cylinders, the Detroit Red Wings continue to lean heavily on their captain to power a late-season push. The offense has tallied 10 goals over their last three games, including a key 2-1 win over Florida, despite dropping two of those contests. The Motor City crew still shows no signs of dialing it back. Meanwhile, the Canadiens—on a five-game win streak—are getting hot at the right time, with Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki rediscovering chemistry, combining for 13 points in their last five contests. Although Detroit’s blue line is feeling the absence of Jake Walman (upper body), Montreal remains without David Savard, leaving both defensive units with holes to patch. Historically, matchups between these two have gone punch-for-punch, and with both teams hovering around the playoff cut line, full-throttle effort and aggressive offensive schemes are likely. Their previous meetings this season have already eclipsed the six-goal mark twice, and with so much on the line, this one profiles as another up-tempo, high-scoring affair. We’re grading this Over pick a B+—solid value, decent risk, and a strong trend in point production makes it a worthwhile swing. Odds and availability are subject to change.

Nick Suzuki and the Canadiens welcome the Red Wings to the Bell Centre riding an impressive five-game win streak, while Detroit has dropped two of their last three, including a 2-1 win over Florida in their most recent outing. Dylan Larkin is not listed as day-to-day and is expected to play, continuing to lead the Red Wings’ top unit alongside Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat. Conversely, Montreal has indeed benefited from the continued development of Juraj Slafkovský, who remains a key part of their top six and has posted points in multiple recent games. The Habs have also historically fared well at home against the Winged Wheel, having covered the puckline in four of the last six meetings. With both teams clinging to the fringes of the Eastern Conference playoff race, tonight’s clash carries significant weight — but with less pressure on the underdog Canadiens and a goalie matchup that favors their recent hot hand in Sam Montembeault, taking Montreal at +1.5 offers solid hedged value. While a straight-up win is a tall task, keeping the game within one seems well within reach. Grade: B.