Montreal Canadiens vs Colorado Avalanche Prediction NHL Picks 1/4/25

The Montreal Canadiens and the Colorado Avalanche meet Saturday in NHL action from the Ball Arena. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Montreal Canadiens vs. Colorado Avalanche prediction.

Montreal Canadiens Recap

The Montreal Canadiens come into this one looking to bounce back from a 4-2 loss at the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks last time out to fall to 17-18-3 on the year. After this game, Montreal will meet the Canucks and Capitals.

Canadiens Looking To Regroup

Nick Suzuki has a team-high 37 points with 11 goals and a team-high 26 assists while Cole Caufield has 35 points with a team-high 20 goals. Mike Matheson has 18 assists while Juraj Slafkovsky has 21 points with 17 assists and Lane Hutson has 24 assists as well on the year. Jake Evans has 23 points with 10 goals and 13 assists. In goal for Montreal, Sam Montembeault has gone 14-15-2 with a 2.91 GAA and a .900 save percentage while Cayden Primeau is 2-3-1 with a 4.70 GAA and an .836 save percentage this season.

Why the Montreal Canadiens will win

• The underdogs have won seven of the Canadiens’ last eight games.
• The Avalanche have lost four of their last five Saturday games as home favorites.
• The underdogs have covered the puck line in each of the Canadiens’ last eight games.
• The Avalanche have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last six games as favorites against Atlantic Division opponents.

Colorado Avalanche Recap

The Colorado Avalanche come into this game looking to keep the puck rolling after a 6-5 OT Win over Buffalo last time out to improve to 24-15 on the year. After this game, Colorado will welcome the Florida Panthers to town before starting a road trip.

Avalanche Win 6th In A Row

Nathan MacKinnon has a team-high 64 points including 14 goals and a team-high 50 assists while Cale Makar has 48 points with 13 goals and 35 assists. Mikko Rantanen has 56 points with 22 goals and 34 assists while Casey Mittelstadt has 25 points with 8 goals and 17 assists. Artturi Lehkonen also has 20 points with 14 goals while Samuel Girard has 18 points with 16 assists as well. Mackenzie Blackwood is 6-1 with a 1.93 GAA and a .932 save percentage while Scott Wedgewood has gone 4-2 with a 2.35 GAA and a .917 save percentage in goal for Colorado on the year.

Why the Colorado Avalanche will win

• The Avalanche have won each of their last six games.
• The Canadiens have lost 12 of their last 13 Saturday road games.
• The Avalanche have covered the puck line in each of their last four games as favorites after coming off overtime.
• The Canadiens have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last three road games against Central Division opponents.

Total Goals Facts

• Each of the last seven games between the Canadiens and Avalanche at Ball Arena has gone UNDER the total goals line.
• Each of the Canadiens’ last six road games on the second leg of a back-to-back has gone OVER the total goals line.

Canadiens vs. Avalanche Prediction

I’m on the Colorado Avalanche here. I know Montreal’s been playing well, and they’ve upset some pretty solid teams as big underdogs on this road trip so far. However, the Avalanche are rolling right now and are one of those teams in the NHL Where two or three times a year, they just go on an extended win streak for 8 or 9 games or longer and you just need to learn to ride the streak until it stops paying off. There’s just a level between these two teams and I think the Avalanche are well above what Montreal’s bringing to the table right now. Give me Colorado.