The Montreal Canadiens (37-20-10) and Detroit Red Wings (37-23-8) meet in the NHL tonight. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. ET at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
The Canadiens are favored by -1.5 on the puck line, with the over/under set at 6.5 (+110o / -130u). The Canadiens are a -110 favorite to win outright, while the Red Wings are -110 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into our Canadiens vs. Red Wings predictions and NHL picks.
Canadiens vs. Red Wings Odds, Pick
| Canadiens Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +230 | 6.5 110o / -130u | -110 |
| Red Wings Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -285 | 6.5 110o / -130u | -110 |
Canadiens vs. Red Wings Spread: Canadiens -1.5 (+230), Red Wings +1.5 (-285)
Canadiens vs. Red Wings Over/Under: 6.5 (+110o / -130u)
Canadiens vs. Red Wings Moneyline: Canadiens -110, Red Wings -110
Canadiens vs. Red Wings Preview
The Canadiens are third in the Atlantic Division and have a 5-3-2 record in their last 10 games, while the Red Wings are two places below with a 4-4-2 record in their past 10 contests.
There might not be a huge disparity between them, as the odds confirm, and both teams are coming off a win, a key factor in our Bet Labs "Fade Home Team Fat and Happy" system, which recommends backing Montreal on the moneyline.
What stands out is that the Canadiens have won two of their past three matchups in Detroit against the Red Wings, including the most recent contest there, last October, when Montreal won 5-1.
Center Kirby Dach is out for the Canadiens, while right wing Michael Brandsegg-Nygard is day-to-day for the Red Wings.
Canadiens vs. Red Wings Prediction
This NHL moneyline system betting highlights situations where a home team comes off a comfortable win at home, which is the case of the Red Wings, while their opponent also comes in with some recent success, but it's now on the road.
The perception of momentum often inflates the price of the home side as the market expects another strong performance, but history shows that teams playing in the same building after a convincing home win are vulnerable to complacency.
At the same time, road teams traveling in off a win tend to carry sharper focus and urgency, especially when the host team may not feel the same pressure to respond.
This creates value in fading the so-called fat-and-happy home side, whose recent success can mask underlying flaws and lead to an overpriced line.
Best Bet: Canadiens ML -110 (DraftKings)
