The Montreal Canadiens will head south and take on the defending champs in their first game exiting the holiday break.
Both teams enter play in solid form, with Montreal winning three of its past four games and Florida claiming two points in four of its last five.
My Canadiens vs. Panthers predictions see a high-scoring affair in the cards, with the two sides building on strong offensive play we saw prior to Christmas.
Canadiens vs Panthers prediction
My Canadiens pick
Over 6 (-125 at BET99)
My Canadiens analysis
This Montreal Canadiens offense is sizzling hot as they enter play having scored a whopping 19 goals over their last four games.
The reassembled top line of Juraj Slafkovsky, Nick Suzuki, and Cole Caufield has been productive at even strength, while the immersion of Patrik Laine on the top power-play unit has taken it to a completely different level.
Laine has played parts of 10 games with the Canadiens. He has eight power-play points in that span and leads not only the team but the entire NHL in goals, shot attempts, and shots on the man advantage.
He is the focal point on the power play and getting him the puck has worked out tremendously for Montreal. Only six teams have scored more power-play goals than the Canadiens since Laine debuted.
There’s reason to believe the Canadiens can cause the Florida Panthers some problems with their offense.
For one, the Panthers have struggled with discipline. They’ve taken the eighth-most penalties over the last 10 games and are prone to giving teams too many opportunities on the power play. With the way the Canadiens are humming on the man advantage, that could be trouble.
Spencer Knight has also struggled in goal. He owns an .891 save percentage on the season and has conceded 15 goals on 98 shots over his last four appearances (.846 SV%).
On the flip side, Florida will be a very difficult offense to slow down. They have scored 3.44 goals per game this season (fifth) and converted on 26.3% of their power plays (fourth).
The Canadiens have taken penalties in bulk all season, and that problem is yet to be nipped — no team has spent more time shorthanded over the last 10 games.
Canadiens vs Panthers same-game parlay (SGP)
Over 6
Lane Hutson Over 0.5 points
Canadiens +3.5
Lane Hutson continues to litter his name on the scoresheet nightly. He's picked up at least one point in nine of his last 10 games, totaling 11 in that span.
Hutson hasn’t just feasted on bottom feeders. He also produced against high-tier teams like the Capitals and Jets, who’ve been among the league’s best at keeping the puck out of the net.
Given Florida’s affinity for taking penalties and their struggles in goal, Hutson should be able to extend his point streak to six games in this matchup.
Montreal’s offense should be able to get their fair share of goals in this game, keeping it competitive in what figures to be a high-scoring matchup.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Bet on the NHL at BET99!
One of Canada's best sportsbooks for hockey betting, join BET99 and get up to $1,500 bonus bets back if your first bet doesn’t win when using our BET99 promo code COVERSBONUS!
*Not available in Ontario. 19+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Canadiens vs Panthers odds
Canadiens vs Panthers live odds
Canadiens vs Panthers opening odds
- Puck line: Montreal +1.5 (+105) | Florida -1.5 (-120)
- Moneyline: Montreal +268 | Florida -320
- Over/Under: Over 6 | Under 6
Odds courtesy of BET99.
Canadiens vs Panthers trend
Nine of the past 10 head-to-head meetings have featured 6+ goals. Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Panthers.
How to watch Canadiens vs Panthers
| Location: | Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL |
| Date: | Saturday, 12-28-2024 |
| Puck drop: | 1:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | TSN2 |
Canadiens vs Panthers latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
