The New Jersey Devils (30-30-3) travel to the Bell Centre for a crucial Eastern Conference clash against the Montreal Canadiens (25-24-5) on Saturday afternoon, with both teams desperate for points as the playoff race intensifies.
The Devils, currently sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference, have struggled recently with just two wins in their last five games and are still missing captain Nico Hischier due to injury.
Montreal returns home following a challenging 1-2 West Coast road trip, looking to snap a three-game home losing streak and close the six-point gap separating them from the final playoff spot.
Recent history favors New Jersey, who have won both previous meetings this season and bring the NHL's second-best power play percentage into this matchup.
The game carries additional intensity following the controversial cross-check that sidelined Hischier in their last encounter, adding an element of rivalry to this important conference battle.
As these Original Six rivals prepare to face off, both teams' contrasting strengths - New Jersey's fourth-ranked goals against average versus Montreal's fourth-ranked shooting percentage - set the stage for what promises to be an intriguing afternoon of hockey.
Montreal Canadiens vs. New Jersey Devils: who will win?
For tonight's Montreal Canadiens vs New Jersey Devils matchup, our predictive model gives the Devils a 55.67% chance of defeating the Canadiens.
New Jersey Devils: 55.67% win probability
- Superior goal differential (-29 vs Canadiens' -25)
- Higher league position (5th in Eastern Conference vs 13th)
- Better points total (66 points vs 55 points)
Montreal Canadiens: 44.33% win probability
- Poor recent form (LWLLL in last 5 games)
- Weak defensive record (185 goals against)
- Lower win percentage (25 wins in 54 games vs Devils' 30 in 56)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts. Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts.
Montreal Canadiens vs. New Jersey Devils odds
| Montreal Canadiens | New Jersey Devils | |
|---|---|---|
| moneyline | +136 (via DraftKings Sportsbook) | -152 (via FanDuel Sportsbook) |
Key stats
- 1The Montreal Canadiens have won 25 out of 54 matches this season.
- 2The New Jersey Devils have won 30 out of 56 matches this season.
- 3With 55 points, the Montreal Canadiens holds the 13th position in the league standings.
- 4New Jersey Devils's 66 points place them 5th in the rankings.
Montreal Canadiens vs. New Jersey Devils form
Montreal Canadiens vs. New Jersey Devils head to head
Montreal Canadiens
33%
New Jersey Devils
67%
Jan 26, 2025
Montreal Canadiens
3 : 4
New Jersey Devils
Nov 8, 2024
New Jersey Devils
5 : 3
Montreal Canadiens
Sep 24, 2024
Montreal Canadiens
3 : 0
New Jersey Devils
Feb 24, 2024
New Jersey Devils
4 : 3
Montreal Canadiens
Jan 18, 2024
New Jersey Devils
2 : 3
Montreal Canadiens
Oct 24, 2023
Montreal Canadiens
2 : 5
New Jersey Devils
