Chicago Blackhawks vs Montreal Canadiens Betting Pick & Prediction for 12/18

bangthebook nhl game preview

The Chicago Blackhawks travel to face the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre. The game is part of the NHL regular season and will be shown on ESPN+. The Blackhawks have a record of 13-14-6, while the Canadiens stand at 17-12-4. The game is set for Thursday, December 18, 2025, at 7:00 PM.

Jeff Blashill leads the Blackhawks, who are ranked 12th in their conference. Martin St. Louis is the head coach for the Canadiens, who rank 9th in their conference. Both teams will look to improve their standings in their respective divisions.

Blackhawks vs Canadiens Game Day Info

  • Sport: NHL
  • Teams: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Montreal Canadiens
  • Venue: Bell Centre
  • Date: Thursday, December 18, 2025
  • Betting Odds: Montreal Canadiens MoneyLine -184, Chicago Blackhawks MoneyLine +154

Chicago Blackhawks Team Preview

The Chicago Blackhawks are looking to bounce back after a string of losses. Their recent game against the Toronto Maple Leafs ended with a close score of 3-2. Despite the defeat, skaters like Wyatt Kaiser and Jason Dickinson managed to find the net.

Connor Bedard is a key player for the Blackhawks this season. With 19 goals and 25 assists in 31 games, he leads the team in points. Bedard’s strong performance will be vital for the team as they aim to improve their standings.

In goal, Spencer Knight has been active with 628 saves this season. He has played 23 games, securing 10 wins for the Blackhawks. Knight’s presence in the net will be crucial as the team seeks to tighten their defense and reduce goals against.

Montreal Canadiens Team Preview

The Montreal Canadiens have had mixed results in their recent games. They lost their last game against the Philadelphia Flyers, with a score of 1-4. Alexandre Texier was the only player to score for Montreal, but the team struggled to convert their chances with only 22 shots on goal.

Before facing the Flyers, the Canadiens had a strong performance against the Edmonton Oilers. They secured a 4-1 win, with two power-play goals boosting their score. Juraj Slafkovsky was impressive with two assists, while Jacob Fowler contributed in goal without allowing any shots.

Looking at their overall season, the Canadiens rank 9th in goals and 7th in assists. Their goaltending has room for improvement, as they are ranked 21st in goals against. Montreal’s skaters have been effective, with Nick Suzuki leading the team in points with 37 in 33 games.

BTB Betting Pick

The Montreal Canadiens are favored to win against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Canadiens have a MoneyLine of -184, while the Blackhawks are at +154. With Montreal having better skater stats in goals and assists, the pick is for the Canadiens to win with a projected score of 4-2.

The over/under for this game is set at 5.5. Both teams have shown the ability to score, with the Canadiens ranked 9th in goals. Given the offensive stats, the recommendation is to take the over at 5.5 with the total projected to reach 6.