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Vegas Golden Knights vs Montréal Canadiens December 31st 2024
Planning on watching today’s Canadiens and Golden Knights game? Catch the action at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV, as the Golden Knights hosts this showdown at 3:00 ET on ESPN+. The over/under for this non-conference contest is set at 6 goals, with the Golden Knights being the favored by -1.5 goals against the Canadiens.
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Montreal vs. Vegas Key Information
- Teams: Canadiens at Golden Knights
- Where: T-Mobile Arena Las Vegas
- Date: Tuesday, December 31st
- Betting Odds VEG -233 | MON +193 O/U 6
The Canadiens Can Win If…
With a 3-1 loss to the Penguins, the Canadiens fell to 16-17-3 on the season. Montreal was the underdog on the puck line, and the total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score reached only 4.
Montreal’s lone goal came in the third period, making it 2-1 before the Penguins added an empty-netter. Christian Dvorak scored for the Canadiens at 5:32 in the third.
Montreal managed just one goal in their 3-1 loss to Pittsburgh, with Christian Dvorak netting his first of the season. Juraj Slafkovsky earned his 7th assist, while Emil Heineman picked up his first.
The Canadiens fired 26 shots on goal but were hampered by 20 giveaways. They were held scoreless until Dvorak’s goal at 14:28 in the third period.
Defensively, the Canadiens allowed the first two goals of the game and an empty-netter late in the third period. Sam Montembeault made 21 saves with a 91.3% save percentage. The defense also recorded 4 takeaways and 28 hits.
- Montreal has put together a record of 2-1 over their past three games. In terms of betting, the team went 3-0 puck line in these matchups. Their over/under record in these matchups is 2-1.
- The Canadiens have gone 6-4 over their last ten regular season games. Across these games, their puck line record was just 6-4, while posting an over-under record of 5-3-2.
The Golden Knights Can Win If…
Vegas improved to 25-8-3 with a 4-3 overtime win against Utah. The Golden Knights were favored on the puck line, but failed to cover. The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, and the combined 7 goals went over.
Trailing 2-0, Vegas rallied to tie the game in the second period. Four different players scored for the Golden Knights, with Brett Howden netting the game-winner in overtime.
In their recent game against Utah, the Golden Knights fired 35 shots on goal but only found the net four times. Brett Howden’s 6th goal of the season came in overtime, while William Karlsson added his 2nd goal of the year. Pavel Dorofeyev kicked off the scoring for Vegas, netting his 7th goal.
Noah Hanifin scored his 2nd goal of the season and also picked up two assists, bringing his assist total to 5. The Golden Knights had 13 giveaways in the game.
The Golden Knights’ defense struggled early, allowing the first two goals of the game, and they also gave up a late equalizer at 13:10 in the 3rd period. Adin Hill finished with 16 saves and a save percentage of 84.2%. Defensively, the Golden Knights had 10 takeaways and 22 hits.
- Vegas will look to keep things rolling as they have put together a mark of 3-0 over their past three games. This also includes going 3-0 puck line and an over-under mark of 1-2.
- The Golden Knights have gone 9-1 over their last ten regular season games. Against the spread, Vegas went 8-2 in these games and finished with an over-under mark of 3-7.
The Lean
When making a moneyline pick, my choice is the Canadiens to come out with a win against the Golden Knights while playing on the road. Considering the moneyline odds at +193, I’m placing my bet on the Canadiens to win outright.
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.
For those looking at the over/under line set at 6 goals, our expectation is that this game will surpass that mark, and we suggest making a bet on the over.
Golden Knights Close December to Remember vs. Canadiens
The Vegas Golden Knights will look to cap an extraordinary December with a victory when they host the Montreal Canadiens in a New Year’s Eve matinee on Tuesday in Las Vegas. The Pacific Division leaders are riding high, boasting one of the NHL’s best records and a dominant stretch at home.
Vegas Riding Hot Streak
The Golden Knights (26-5-1) have been nearly unstoppable in December, compiling a 10-1-0 record and a six-game winning streak, their longest since starting the 2023-24 season with seven consecutive wins. Their dominance at T-Mobile Arena, where they are 15-3-0, has been a key factor.
Vegas has leaned on stellar defense and goaltending, allowing two goals or fewer in nine of their 11 December games, including two shutouts. Backup goaltender Ilya Samsonov delivered a standout performance on Sunday, stopping 31 shots in a 3-0 victory over the Calgary Flames to earn his first shutout of the season and 14th of his career.
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The Golden Knights’ balanced attack also stood out in Sunday’s win, with goals from Tanner Pearson, Brett Howden, and Victor Olofsson. Pearson, who contributed a goal and an assist, credited the team’s improved defensive structure: “Everyone is kind of reading the plays off right. I think everyone’s kind of bought into what we’re trying to do.”
Coach Bruce Cassidy echoed those sentiments, highlighting the team’s defensive improvements: “In the D-zone we’re not giving up a lot from the slot, we’re better on the second chance and getting the rebounds out of the way.”
Canadiens Gaining Momentum
The Montreal Canadiens (17-14-3) head into Tuesday’s game on a high note after sweeping the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers (4-0) on Saturday and the Tampa Bay Lightning (5-2) on Sunday. The back-to-back wins have pulled Montreal within five points of Ottawa for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Jake Evans has been a standout for the Canadiens, scoring in five consecutive games, while rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes impressed with 34 saves in a shutout of the Panthers during his NHL debut.
Captain Nick Suzuki, a former first-round pick of the Golden Knights, praised his team’s resilience after the win over Tampa Bay: “I thought we played a really smart game, managed the puck well, managed the game fully, so it’s a big two points for us.”
Key Matchup and Previous Meeting
This marks the second and final regular-season meeting between these teams. Vegas claimed the first matchup 6-2 on Nov. 23 in Montreal, fueled by a dominant second period featuring five unanswered goals.
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The Canadiens will need to find a way to contain the Golden Knights’ well-rounded attack and disciplined defense, especially on the road. Montreal has shown improvement recently but faces a tall task against a Vegas team firing on all cylinders.
What’s Next
Vegas begins a stretch of five games against Eastern Conference opponents, while Montreal will continue its six-game road trip with stops in Arizona and Colorado. Both teams are looking to carry momentum into the new year as they jockey for playoff positioning.
