Montréal Canadiens vs Chicago Blackhawks Picks and Predictions April 14th 2025

Canadiens Eye Another Home Win, Welcome Blackhawks to Bell Centre

The Montreal Canadiens are closing out their season with style and strength — especially at home. On Monday night, they’ll look to extend their impressive home-ice point streak when they face the visiting Chicago Blackhawks in a matchup of teams heading in very different directions.

As the Habs gear up for a postseason push and the Blackhawks focus on development, this game offers a unique betting angle. Get ahead of the play with sharp NHL picks and expert predictions to find the edge you need.

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Canadiens Dominating at Home as Playoff Hopes Stay Alive

Montreal (39-31-10, 88 points) has become a powerhouse at Bell Centre, going 9-0-1 in their last 10 home games. Their latest effort — a gritty 1-0 overtime loss to Toronto — showcased their defensive commitment, as they earned a point despite being outshot 35-15.

“I felt we really were disciplined in playing the game that was in front of us,” said Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis. “(The Leafs) defend extremely well… it was probably an above average night.”

The Habs’ penalty kill has been airtight, going 14-for-14 over the last four games, though their power play has struggled — 0-for-13 in the past seven. Even so, Montreal continues to grind out points at a time when every shift matters.

Goaltender Sam Montembeault has been stellar down the stretch, posting a 5-1-0 record with a .927 save percentage and a 2.00 GAA over his last six starts. He’s expected to be back in net on Monday.

Meanwhile, rookie defenseman Lane Hutson is on the verge of history. With 64 points (6G, 58A), he is just one shy of breaking Chris Chelios’ team record for most points by a rookie defenseman, set in 1984-85.

Demidov Era Begins, Blackhawks Say Goodbye to Veterans

The game could mark the NHL debut of Ivan Demidov, the Canadiens’ highly anticipated 2024 fifth-overall draft pick. After a strong campaign with KHL’s St. Petersburg, the 19-year-old forward signed his entry-level deal and could step on NHL ice for the first time Monday.

As Montreal ushers in a new star, Chicago is saying farewell to two veterans. Alec Martinez and Pat Maroon played their final NHL games Saturday in a 5-4 shootout loss to Winnipeg. The duo exits the league with a combined 30 seasons and three Stanley Cups apiece.

“They’re just unbelievable people… great human beings,” said interim coach Anders Sorensen. “They’ve been awesome with the younger players.”

The Blackhawks (23-46-11, 57 points) have the fewest road points in the league (8-26-5) and continue to rotate young talent through the lineup. Goaltenders Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom are expected to split duties over the back-to-back.

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Montreal Poised to Extend Home Dominance

Though the Blackhawks took the first meeting between these clubs back in January (4-2), the setting and stakes are different this time. Montreal has surged on home ice, while Chicago continues to build toward the future. With a playoff atmosphere, a debut potentially on tap, and a franchise record in reach, the Habs are locked in for one more big performance at Bell Centre.