Canadiens Surprising Home Underdogs Facing Canucks In Monday NHL Picks

• What: Monday NHL Picks
• Who: Vancouver Canucks at Montreal Canadiens
• When: Monday, January 6, 7:00 p.m.

The NHL picks say that the Montreal Canadiens haven't looked this good in years. Winners of 10 of their past 15 games, Montreal is within a point of a playoff spot in the NHL's Eastern Conference.

On the other hand, injuries are crippling the Vancouver Canucks. Without their top defensive pairing, Vancouver is 1-3 straight up through the past four games and 2-6 SU in the past last eight outings.

So it's perhaps a bit surprising that oddsmakers are going with the visiting Canucks as -130 favorites in the NHL picks for Monday's game against the Canadiens.

Let's look at the latest betting line on this game. Odds are subject to change.

	Puck Line	Moneyline	Total
Vancouver Canucks	-1.5 (+185)	-130	O 6.5 (+115)
Montreal Canadiens	+1.5 (-225)	+110	U 6.5 (-135)

The Canadiens are returning to the Bell Centre following a six-game road trip in which they went 4-2 SU.

There are four NHL games on the agenda during a quiet Monday night of action, and this is one of the games that we think provides the best bets of the night in the NHL picks.

Best NHL Picks For You

Before we take a deeper dive into Monday's Cancks vs Canadiens NHL picks and best bets, why not take a look at our handy NHL betting guide to see where the best NHL betting odds and picks are located, including the latest props and futures wagering. As well, these online sportsbook reviews will also aid in helping you decipher which betting site is the one that's going to service your NHL betting needs on a comprehensive basis. And if you're someone who is living life on the move, these are the best sports betting apps that can help you get your NHL bets down in the midst of your busy day.

Canucks vs Canadiens Betting Trends

Although Montreal is home, it's the visiting Canucks who've been in control of this series in recent games. Vancouver is 5-1 SU in the last six games facing Montreal. At the Bell Centre, though, it's a bit of a different outcome. Montreal is 4-3 SU facing Vancouver in the last seven games on home ice.

The Canucks are 10-4 SU in their last 14 games against teams from the Atlantic Division. Vancouver is 1-5 SU in the last six games when playing as the betting favorite. They are 1-4 SU in their last five road games.

The Canadiens are 7-1 SU in their last eight games as the betting underdog. Montreal is 5-2 SU in the club's past seven home games. The Canadiens are 5-10 SU in their past 15 clashes with Pacific Division squads.

Four of Vancouver's last six games have gone over. As well, four of the past five Canucks vs Canadiens games hit on the over, as have six of the past eight meetings between the two teams at the Bell Centre. Overall, though, Montreal is 1-3-1 on the total in the past five games. And four of Vancouver's past five road games went under.

Overall this season, Montreal is 11-8 against the puck line on home ice. The Canadiens are 16-20-3 SU as a betting underdog. Vancouver is 12-9-5 SU as the favorite in the betting line. The Canucks are 9-8 against the puck line as a road team.

Injuries Hampering Canucks

Those missing in action for the Canucks include reigning Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes (undisclosed injury) and Filip Hronek (upper body), his partner in Vancouver's top defense pairing. Oft-injured No. 1 goalie Thatcher Demko is also questionable due to a back injury. As well, top scorer Elias Pettersson (undisclosed) is also out. That's four members of Vancouver's core who figure to be out of action on Monday.

Tough for Canucks to win w/o Hughes and Pettersson. Impossible if Miller and Boeser aren’t scoring.

Boeser: “Obviously, it's hard. We knew it was going to be hard without those guys. We expect ourselves to be a line that can be difference-makers.” https://t.co/Rk55OEJi5v

— Iain MacIntyre (@imacSportsnet) January 4, 2025

Pettersson is also mired in the midst of a personality clash with teammate JT Miller. The latter took a leave from the team for a portion of this season. Canucks GM Patrick Allvin has told the local media that he may trade one, or both of these key players. At the same time, he allowed that if they can work out their differences, both could be staying in Vancouver.

Canadiens On A Roll

In the club's last game, Montreal fashioned a 2-1 shootout win at Colorado to end the six-game win streak of the Avalanche. Forward Cole Caufield leads the Canadiens with 21 goals. He's scored in each of the past three games. Captain Nick Suzuki is leading the team in assists (27) and points (38). He's riding a three-game assist streak.

Jakub Dobes

First goaltender in Canadiens history to allow just 1 goal through his first 2 career NHL starts#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/hDg0sdvxh9

— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) January 5, 2025

Rookie goalie Jakub Dobes got the win in Colorado, following his shutout of the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in his NHL debut. He's the first netminder in the storied history of the Canadiens to allow just one goal through his first two starts.

Forward Patrik Laine (illness) is listed as questionable for this game. He missed Montreal's last two games. Laine has eight goals and 10 points in just 13 games this season. Defensemen David Reinbacher (knee) and David Savard (upper body) are out.

Canucks vs Canadiens NHL Picks

Montreal is winning with stout defense. The Canadiens have allowed fewer than three goals in four of the past five games. Meanwhile, Vancouver has allowed 3+ goals in eight successive contests.

Montreal Canadiens To defeat Vancouver Canucks

+110

Bet Now!

The internal unrest, coupled with the rash of key injuries, makes Vancouver a difficult bet as the away chalk. Home underdogs are always an enticing play and in this case, you should be all over the Canadiens.