Montréal Canadiens vs Nashville Predators Picks and Predictions December 5th 2024

Montréal Canadiens vs Nashville Predators December 5th 2024

Don’t miss out on the NHL showdown between the Predators and Canadiens. The game is starting at 7:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Canadiens at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC. Get ready to place your bets! The Predators are favored by -1.5 goals in this non-conference contest against the Canadiens. The game’s over/under currently sits at 6 goals.

Nashville vs. Montreal Key Information

With a 5-2 road win over the Avalanche, the Predators moved to 7-13-6 on the season. Nashville covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 7 goals surpassed the pre-game line of 6.5.

Five different players scored for the Predators, who trailed 1-0 before Steven Stamkos tied it at 11:29 in the second period. Nashville added two empty-net goals to secure the win.

Nashville found the net five times against Colorado, with two empty-netters in the final 1:14. The Predators had 25 shots on goal, and each of their five goals came from different players, including Filip Forsberg, who now has seven goals this season. Gustav Nyquist added his fourth goal, while Roman Josi scored his first of the year on a power play.

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After a scoreless first period, Nashville got on the board with Steven Stamkos’ second goal of the season, also on a power play. The Predators recorded 15 giveaways and earned seven assists in the 5-2 victory.

Defensively, the Predators will look to improve after allowing the first goal just 2:54 into the 2nd period and another late in the 3rd. However, Juuse Saros made 29 saves with a 93.5% save percentage, and the defense recorded 4 takeaways and 23 hits.

Montreal fell to 9-13-3 after a 3-1 road loss to the Penguins. The Canadiens entered as underdogs on the puck line, and the total of 4 goals fell short of the 6.5 set before the game.

Montreal’s only goal came in the third period, cutting the Penguins’ lead to 2-1, but Pittsburgh sealed the win with an empty-net goal. The Canadiens have now lost three of their last four games.

Montreal’s offense struggled in their 3-1 loss to Pittsburgh, with Christian Dvorak netting his first goal of the season at 14:28 in the third period. Emil Heineman earned his first assist of the year, while Juraj Slafkovsky picked up his seventh assist.

The Canadiens fired 26 shots on goal but were held scoreless through the first two periods. They recorded 20 giveaways and failed to convert on any power play opportunities.

Montreal’s defense gave up the first two goals of the game, one late in the first period and another early in the second. After the Canadiens pulled within one in the third, they conceded an empty-netter with 45 seconds remaining. Sam Montembeault made 21 saves with a 91.3% save percentage, while the defense added 4 takeaways and 28 hits.

When making a moneyline pick, my choice is the Canadiens to come out with a win against the Predators while playing at home. Considering the moneyline odds at +116, I’m placing my bet on the Canadiens to win outright.

If you’re looking to get a bet down on this matchup, we foresee the Canadiens winning the underdog. However, if you’re not as confident in the Canadiens straight-up, we’d still recommend placing a bet on them to cover the puck line.

If you’re looking at the over/under line set at 6 goals, our prediction is that this game will exceed that mark, and we strongly advise placing a bet on the over.

With Patrik Laine Back, Canadiens Seek Home Win vs. Predators

A five-game homestand could provide the Montreal Canadiens the spark they need to climb out of the Eastern Conference basement. Their quest begins with a matchup against the Nashville Predators on Thursday at Bell Centre.

Montreal kicked off the home stretch on a high note Tuesday, securing a 2-1 overtime victory against the New York Islanders. Patrik Laine, making his long-awaited season debut after a sprained knee sidelined him for nearly two months, scored the game’s first goal, while captain Nick Suzuki delivered the overtime winner just 2:39 into the extra period.

“We all love playing here, and so do other teams,” Suzuki said. “We have to bring it every single night at home. They’re amped up to play here. In my few years here, we haven’t really played well at home — especially record-wise — but I feel like we’ve been playing better at home.”

Canadiens Look to Build Momentum

The Canadiens (6-5-2 at home) are aiming to improve their record at Bell Centre after three consecutive seasons with losing home records. Head coach Martin St. Louis emphasized the importance of capitalizing on the extended home stint.

“We know where we stand, and we got to catch up in the win column,” St. Louis said. “Being hard to play at home should help us, but once the puck drops, there’s a game to be played, and that’s what we’re going to focus on.”

Suzuki, who is riding a four-game point streak (three goals, four assists), leads Montreal with 26 points. Rookie defenseman Lane Hutson is also in fine form, logging five assists during his own four-game streak. Laine, who tallied two shots and logged 17:27 of ice time in his season debut, admitted he felt a bit rusty but celebrated the team’s success.

“We got the two points, so that’s really all that matters,” Laine said.

Predators Look to End Skid

Nashville enters the game with their own challenges, as they extended their losing streak to five games (0-2-3) following a 3-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday. Road woes have plagued the Predators, who are 2-7-4 away from home this season.

Scoring has been a consistent issue during Nashville’s skid, with the team managing only two goals in each of the last five games. On Wednesday, Jonathan Marchessault scored his 500th NHL point early in the first period, and captain Roman Josi extended his point streak to six games (five goals, four assists).

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Goaltending Shuffle for Nashville

Predators goaltender Juuse Saros, who made 25 saves against Toronto, is likely to get a rest Thursday. This could pave the way for newly acquired Justus Annunen to make his team debut. The 24-year-old goaltender joined Nashville in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.

“It’s a great opportunity for me to learn from one of the best goalies in the league right now,” Annunen said of working alongside Saros. “This is a perfect spot for me at this point in my career.”

What to Watch

Montreal’s ability to sustain offensive pressure will be key against a Nashville team struggling to find consistency. Both teams are eager to turn things around, with the Canadiens looking to leverage their home ice and the Predators aiming to end their scoring drought and snap their losing streak.