Montreal Canadiens vs Edmonton Oilers Picks and Predictions November 18th 2024

Montreal Canadiens vs Edmonton Oilers November 18th 2024

Don’t miss out on the NHL showdown between the Oilers and Canadiens. The game is starting at 7:30 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Canadiens at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC. Get ready to place your bets! The Oilers are favored by -1.5 goals in this non-conference showdown. The game’s over/under is currently at 6.5 goals.

Edmonton vs. Montreal Key Information

With a 4-2 win over the Flames, the Oilers moved above .500 to 9-8-2. Edmonton covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 6.5 goals was never in danger, as the two teams combined for 6 goals.

Four different players scored for the Oilers, including Zach Hyman, who broke a 2-2 tie in the third period. Edmonton added an empty-net goal to seal the victory.

In their 4-2 win over Calgary, the Oilers fired 31 shots on goal and tallied 10 giveaways. Edmonton got on the board early, with Leon Draisaitl netting his 9th goal just 20 seconds into the game. Jeff Skinner followed up with his 3rd goal at 11:48 in the first period.

Zach Hyman scored his 3rd goal of the season on a power play at 9:50 in the third period. Mattias Janmark added an empty-netter with just 3 seconds left, his 2nd goal of the year. Draisaitl also picked up two assists, bringing his season total to 8.

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Defensively, the Oilers will look to build off their last game, where they allowed just two goals on 31 shots from the Flames. Stuart Skinner posted a 93.5% save percentage, making 29 saves. The Oilers’ defense also recorded 19 hits and 2 takeaways. Both of the goals they allowed came on even-strength, with the first coming at 4:33 into the 2nd period and the second at 4:28 into the 3rd.

Montreal’s 3-1 loss to the Penguins dropped them to 6-10-2 for the season. The Canadiens were underdogs on the puck line, and the total was set at 6.5 goals, but both teams combined for just 4.

Trailing 2-0, Montreal got on the board in the third period with a goal from Christian Dvorak at 14:28. However, the Penguins sealed the game with an empty-net goal at 19:15.

Montreal’s offense struggled in their 3-1 loss to Pittsburgh, managing just one goal, which came in the third period when Christian Dvorak netted his first of the season. The Canadiens fired 26 shots on goal but were held scoreless until the 14:28 mark of the third period.

Emil Heineman picked up his first assist of the season, while Juraj Slafkovsky added his seventh. Montreal had 20 giveaways in the game.

Montreal’s defense gave up the opening goal at 15:57 in the first period and another at 18:40 in the second. They also allowed a late empty-netter at 19:15 in the third. Sam Montembeault made 21 saves, posting a 91.3% save percentage.

For a moneyline bet, I’m backing the Canadiens to secure a victory over the Oilers at home. With the moneyline currently set at +217, I’m locking in my bet on the Canadiens straight-up.

Our projections have the Canadiens pulling out a win as the underdog. But if you’re not as bullish as we are on the Canadiens, we’d recommend at least getting a bet down on them to cover the puck line.

If you’re looking at the the over/under line set at 6.5 goals, our prediction is that this game will stay below that threshold, and we strongly suggest placing a bet on the under.

As Canadiens Prepare to Host Oilers, Are Both Teams on Track?

The Edmonton Oilers seem to be shaking off their early-season struggles, and they’ll look to continue their recent surge when they face the Montreal Canadiens on Monday night in Montreal.

After reaching the Stanley Cup Final last season, Edmonton began this campaign with a disappointing 6-7-1 record. However, a recent four-game points streak (3-0-1) suggests that the Oilers may be turning the corner.

The Oilers nearly secured a third straight overtime victory on Saturday but came up just short in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Leon Draisaitl played the hero by scoring a clutch equalizer with just 1:29 remaining in the third period to force overtime.

Injury Concerns Loom for Edmonton’s Defense

While the Oilers’ offense has found its rhythm, their defense is facing challenges. Darnell Nurse, one of Edmonton’s top defensemen, suffered an upper-body injury on Saturday after a high hit from Toronto’s Ryan Reaves, who was later suspended for five games.

“He’s a very important piece of our team,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. “You can’t replace Darnell, but the other defensemen stepped up in his absence.”

Nurse is unlikely to play Monday, leaving the Oilers thin on the blue line. Fellow defenseman Viktor Arvidsson has missed the last two games with an undisclosed injury, though he returned to practice recently.

Canadiens Finding Their Groove After Slump

The Canadiens, meanwhile, are also looking to build momentum. After a six-game winless skid (0-5-1), Montreal has bounced back with a 2-1-0 record over their last three games.

In one of their most convincing performances of the season, the Habs routed the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-1 on Saturday. Nick Suzuki scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period, sparking a run of four unanswered goals by Montreal.

“We got pucks off our stick quickly, especially at 5-on-5,” said defenseman Mike Matheson, who contributed a goal and an assist. “Not trying to be perfect led to more offensive chances.”

Montreal’s defensive unit will have its hands full against Edmonton’s superstar duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who are each riding four-game multi-point streaks. McDavid has been red-hot with 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in that span, while Draisaitl has tallied eight points (four goals, four assists).

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Key Players to Watch

• Connor McDavid (Oilers): The league’s most dynamic player is on a four-game point streak and will look to add to his 11-point tally during that stretch.
• Leon Draisaitl (Oilers): Continues to be a critical playmaker for Edmonton with eight points in his last four games.
• Nick Suzuki (Canadiens): Montreal’s top scorer with 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists), Suzuki is crucial to Montreal’s offensive efforts.
• Mike Matheson (Canadiens): Coming off a strong game against Columbus, Matheson’s contributions on both ends of the ice will be vital against the high-powered Oilers.

Goaltending Matchup

With a back-to-back set looming for the Oilers, head coach Kris Knoblauch will likely rotate his goaltenders. Stuart Skinner (3.28 GAA) and Calvin Pickard (2.49 GAA) are expected to split the starts between Montreal and Tuesday’s game against the Ottawa Senators. Skinner has been Edmonton’s workhorse, while Pickard has shown promise in his seven appearances.

The Canadiens will likely stick with Sam Montembeault, who has taken over goaltending duties with Cayden Primeau struggling. Montembeault has posted a 2.59 GAA over his last seven games and will be leaned on again to contain Edmonton’s potent offense.

What’s at Stake?

With both teams looking to find consistency, this matchup is a critical one. The Oilers aim to solidify their recent form and build on their points streak, while the Canadiens are eager to continue their turnaround after a rough stretch.

As the Oilers hit the road and the Canadiens seek a statement win at home, Monday night’s clash promises to be an entertaining showdown between two teams trying to steer their seasons back on course.