Montréal Canadiens vs Pittsburgh Penguins Picks and Predictions December 12th 2024

Penguins and Canadiens: Two Teams, Two Directions

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens find themselves near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, but their recent trajectories suggest very different stories. The Penguins look to stop their slide, while the Canadiens hope to continue building momentum as the two teams meet in Montreal on Thursday night.

Penguins Struggling to Find Consistency

The Penguins have dropped two of their last three games, including a disappointing 6-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday. Despite moments of promise, Pittsburgh has struggled to string together consistent performances.

“I didn’t think we were as stiff on the puck,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said after the loss. “I thought we hung onto pucks more in the offensive zone. I thought we could’ve controlled territory a little bit more and forced them to have to defend us a little bit more.”

The Penguins found themselves in a 3-0 hole early in the second period before pulling within one by the end of the frame. However, Colorado dominated the third, scoring three unanswered goals to seal the win. The frustration boiled over for Penguins fans, who booed the team during a power play in the second period.

Captain Sidney Crosby defended the team’s effort. “I think there’s been some times this season when we deserved it,” Crosby said of the boos. “I don’t think tonight was one of them.”

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Crosby, 37, has eight goals and 19 assists this season, leading the team with 27 points in 30 games. Despite reaching the milestone 600th goal of his career on Nov. 23, he’s gone seven games without scoring. Fellow veteran Evgeni Malkin has been another key contributor with 25 points (six goals, 19 assists) and reached 500 career goals earlier this season, a feat achieved by only 47 players in NHL history.

Canadiens Riding Momentum

In contrast, the Canadiens have won three of their last four games, including a thrilling 3-2 shootout victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Monday. Montreal’s resilience has been a hallmark of their recent success.

Patrik Laine has been a revelation since returning from a preseason knee injury. He scored a power-play goal and added an assist against Anaheim, then netted the decisive goal in the shootout.

“His (Laine’s) shot is so hard to stop for a goalie,” said Montreal netminder Sam Montembeault, who made 27 saves in the win. “So, on their side, they’ve got to respect that.”

Kirby Dach provided another key moment, scoring 11 seconds after Anaheim took a 2-1 lead in the third period to send the game into overtime. The goal, his first since Oct. 26, broke a 19-game drought.

“It’s kind of the only way one was going to go in,” Dach said, referencing the wide-open net created by a Ducks’ mishap behind the goal. “So it was nice. ‘Slaf’ (Juraj Slafkovsky) made a good play and it’s definitely encouraging.”

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Leaders Taking Charge

Montreal captain Nick Suzuki has been the team’s most consistent performer, leading the Canadiens with 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists) in 28 games. Cole Caufield, the team’s top goal-scorer, has netted 17 and added eight assists for 25 points, also in 28 games. Together, they’ve provided the offensive spark the Canadiens need to stay competitive.

What to Watch For

This matchup is a tale of two teams looking for answers in different areas. Pittsburgh’s veterans, led by Crosby and Malkin, must rediscover their offensive rhythm to avoid falling further behind in the standings. Meanwhile, Montreal’s mix of rising stars and seasoned leaders has given them newfound confidence, with Laine’s return bolstering their power-play threat.

As these two teams collide, the question is whether the Penguins can halt their slide or if the Canadiens will continue their upward trajectory. One thing is certain—both teams will be desperate to secure valuable points in this key Eastern Conference clash.