Canadiens vs. Blackhawks NHL Predictions, Picks and Odds - Dec. 18

The Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks -- both coming off defeats in their last game -- will face each other on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET, at Bell Centre in Montréal. The oddsmakers have made the Canadiens solid favorites at -185 on the moneyline, and the Blackhawks are at +154.

Montreal fell in a 4-1 defeat at home its last time out on Dec. 16 against the Philadelphia Flyers. Alexandre Texier (one goal) and Josh Anderson (one assist) were among the three Canadiens players who recorded one point each.

Chicago played on the road in its last game on Dec. 16, and fell 3-2 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Five Blackhawks skaters recorded one point each in that outing, including Wyatt Kaiser (one goal) and Louis Crevier (one assist).

Ahead of watching this matchup, here's our prediction for which squad will bring home the win in Thursday's hockey action.

Canadiens vs. Blackhawks Predictions & Pick

For predictions on the upcoming game between the Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks, computer-calculated moneyline, over/under, and score predictions are below, sourced from Dunkel Index.

• Prediction: Blackhawks 2 - Canadiens 1
• Pick OU: Under 5.5 (Dunkel projecting 3.01 goals)
  

Pick with the best in the business! Get free picks for every game, every week at the Dunkel Index.

Canadiens vs. Blackhawks Moneylines

Take a look below at the most up-to-date moneylines for the Canadiens-Blackhawks game.

• Favorite: Canadiens (-185)
• Underdog: Blackhawks (+154)

Canadiens Betting Insights

• In the 15 times this season the Canadiens have been favored on the moneyline, they have gone 8-7 in those games.
• Montreal has not played a game this season shorter than -185 moneyline odds.
• The implied moneyline probability for this game says the Canadiens have a 64.9% chance to win.
• In 24 of 33 matches this season, Montreal and its opponent have combined to finish above 5.5 goals.

Blackhawks Betting Insights

• The Blackhawks have won 13, or 41.9%, of the 31 games they have played while the underdog this season.
• Chicago is 4-9 this season when entering a game as an underdog by +154 or more on the moneyline.
• The moneyline in this contest implies a 39.4% chance of victory for the Blackhawks.
• Chicago has played 15 games this season that ended with more than 5.5 goals.

Canadiens Key Stats

• Montreal's 104 total goals (3.2 per game) rank 13th in the league.
• The Canadiens have conceded 115 total goals (3.5 per game), ranking 29th in NHL play in goals against.
• Its goal differential (-11) ranks 24th in the league.
• The 24 power-play goals the Canadiens have scored this season (ninth-most in the NHL) have come on 92 power-play chances.
• Montreal has the league's fourth-best power-play conversion rate (26.09%).
• The Canadiens have scored two shorthanded goals this season.
• Montreal has the league's 25th-ranked penalty-kill percentage (76.85%).
• Montreal wins 49.3% of its faceoffs to rank 21st in the NHL.
• The Canadiens have a 12.6% shooting percentage as a team, which ranks second in the league.

Blackhawks Key Stats

• Chicago's 93 goals on the season (2.8 per game) rank 24th in the NHL.
• The Blackhawks have allowed 99 total goals this season (three per game), 14th in the league.
• Its -6 goal differential ranks 19th in the league.
• The Blackhawks have 20 power-play goals (13th in NHL) on 94 chances.
• Chicago's power-play percentage (21.28) ranks the team 10th in the league.
• The Blackhawks have three shorthanded goals (ninth in league).
• At 83.93%, Chicago has the fifth-best penalty-kill percentage in the league.
• At 46.7%, Chicago has the NHL's 28th-ranked faceoff win percentage.
• The Blackhawks' 11% shooting percentage is 13th in the league.