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Penguins vs. Canadiens Prediction, Picks & Best Bets for Tonight's NHL Game

Gary Pearson

Last Updated: December 12, 2024 7:14 AM EST • 2 min 11 sec read.

Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Rickard Rakell reaches for the puck against the Colorado Avalanche as we offer our Penguins vs. Canadiens prediction.
Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Rickard Rakell reaches for the puck against the Colorado Avalanche. Photo by Charles LeClaire via Imagn Images

Despite being at or near the bottom of the Eastern Conference, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens have played better lately, with the former winning five of their last seven games, and the latter triumphant in three of their last four at the Bell Centre. 

Thursday's contest (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+) offers the third and final instalment of this head-to-head matchup, with the Pens winning both previous tilts. Pittsburgh, the road favorite, enters the game looking for its fifth straight victory over the Canadiens. 

Although they have the seventh-worst away points percentage (.385) and won't be mistaken for a Stanley Cup odds favorite anytime soon, the Pens find themselves just two points adrift of the final wild-card spot. 

Our Penguins vs. Canadiens prediction focuses on Rickard Rakell and his recent shot-production uptick. 

Today's Penguins vs. Canadiens prediction

Odds via our best NHL betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale.

My best pick: Rickard Rakell Over 2.5 shots ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: | Implied probability: 54.55%

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The Penguins haven't been on the road much lately, playing just two of the last 11 in enemy rinks. And while it's been a minute, I expect them to continue where they left off regarding shot production. The Pens are tied for the fourth-most shots per game on the road (30.5), while the Canadiens allow the second-most shots (31.6) at the Bell Centre. 

It's the perfect matchup for Rakell, whose shot production has increased recently. ;Rakell fired at least three shots in three straight and four of the last six. 

He also hit the Over in four of the last five road games. Speaking of away tilts, Rakell had three shots on Oct. 14, the last time Pittsburgh traveled to Montreal. 

The Canadiens are the fourth-most penalized team on home ice, which could add to the factors in Rakell's favor. A winning $10 bet will yield an $8.33 profit. 

Penguins vs. Canadiens player prop pick

NHL picks made Thursday.

Mike Matheson prop pick: Over 1.5 shots ⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -154 via Betway | Implied probability: 60.63%

Matheson getting at least two shots is a three-star play due to the expensive -154 price. While I like the odds about as much as smelling my dog's breath after devouring tuna, Matheson has hit the Over on this prop in six straight games and 10 of the previous 14.

Like Rackell, Matheson faces a favorable matchup as the Penguins allow the fourth-most shots per game on the road. A winning $10 bet will profit $6.49. 

Penguins vs. Canadiens live odds & info

  • When: Thursday, Dec. 12
  • Puck drop: 7 p.m. ET
  • Where: Bell Centre (Montreal, Quebec)
  • How to watch: ESPN+
  • Favorite: Penguins (-115 via Betway)

Penguins vs. Canadiens injuries

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Written By:
Gary Pearson
Gary Pearson has written professionally since 2010, focusing on sports betting since 2014. Before entering the sports betting space, he contributed to the Canadian Press, FanSided, the Hockey Writers, the Calgary Herald, and other publications. His work has also been featured in Sports Illustrated and Bleacher Report. Gary, who consumes sports like a blue whale devours plankton, has a penchant for writing predictions and analyses across several sports, including hockey, soccer, football, tennis, and more. He bets regularly, preferring single-game picks, props, and live betting. While there isn't a sport he has yet to dabble in, Gary prefers betting on soccer, hockey, and football. He studied at various post-secondary institutions, including the University of Calgary, SAIT Polytechnic, and Griffith University, located in Brisbane, Australia. Gary has a marketing degree and completed his bachelor's degree in journalism at Griffith University. He feels strongly that life experience is as essential as post-secondary education, helping formulate more accurate predictions and analyses. Gary believes that competing at a high level of amateur sports during his formative years helped him better understand an athlete's psyche and the nuances and complexities of a team's dynamic, both on and off the playing surface. He feels that knowledge is immeasurably important when offering his analytical expertise. He has lived on five continents and currently resides in Canada.