| MATCHUP | Montreal Canadiens | Pittsburgh Penguins |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 19-12-4 | 14-11-9 |
| Spread | +1.5 -250 | -1.5 205 |
| Moneyline | -105 | -115 |
| Total | Over 6.5 (-105) | Under 6.5 (-115) |
| When | Sunday, December 21, 2025 | |
| Time | 07:00 PM EST | |
| TV | ESPN+ | |
Pittsburgh Penguins Preview
The Penguins have 37 points this season with a 14-11-9 record, and are 21-13 ATS and 16-14 in over/under. They have a 6-6-5 home record and a 8-5-4 road record and are sitting 5th in the Metropolitan Division. They are coming off a 0-4 road loss to the Canadiens, and their previous three games were a 0-4 road loss against the Senators, a 4-6 home loss against the Oilers, and a 4-5 home overtime loss against the Mammoth.
Offensively, the Penguins are averaging 3.03 goals per game and are scoring 29.5% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 3.09 goals per game and are killing 80.4% of their opponent’s power plays.
Sidney Crosby leads the Penguins with 35 points and 19 goals, while Erik Karlsson leads the team in assists with 22. Stuart Skinner is the starting goalie for the Penguins, and he has a 11-10-4 record, with 2.94 GAA and .886 SV%. Arturs Silovs is the backup goalie and he has a 4-5-6 record, with 3.26 GAA and .890 SV%.
Montreal Canadiens Preview
The Canadiens have 42 points this season with a 19-12-4 record, and are 18-17 ATS and 22-9 in over/under. They have a 10-9-1 home record and a 9-3-3 road record and are sitting 2nd in the Atlantic Division. They are coming off a 4-0 home win over the Penguins, and their previous three games were a 4-1 home win against the Blackhawks, a 1-4 home loss against the Flyers, and a 4-1 home win against the Oilers.
Offensively, the Canadiens are averaging 3.20 goals per game and are scoring 26.3% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 3.31 goals per game and are killing 77.9% of their opponent’s power plays.
Nick Suzuki leads the Canadiens with 40 points and 30 assists, while Cole Caufield leads the team in goals with 17. Jakub Dobes is the starting goalie for the Canadiens, and he has a 12-5-2 record, with 2.91 GAA and .893 SV%. Jacob Fowler is the backup goalie and he has a 2-1-1 record, with 2.49 GAA and .915 SV%.
Montreal Canadiens @ Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Trends: December 21, 2025
Why the Pittsburgh Penguins will win
- The Canadiens have lost nine of their last 10 road games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- The Penguins have won six of their last seven night games against the Canadiens following a road loss.
- The Penguins have covered the puck line in eight of their last nine night games against opponents on a winning streak.
- The Canadiens have lost the second period in seven of their last eight road games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
Why the Montreal Canadiens will win
- The Penguins have lost each of their last 11 games on the second leg of a back-to-back.
- The Canadiens have won each of their last two games as underdogs on the second leg of a back-to-back.
- The Canadiens have covered the puck line in each of their last six road games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Penguins have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last four games on the second leg of a back-to-back against the Canadiens.
- The Penguins have lost the second period in each of their last seven games against Atlantic Division opponents when trailing after the first period.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the Canadiens’ last eight Sunday games as road underdogs have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Each of the last four games between the Canadiens and Penguins at PPG Paints Arena have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in each of the Penguins’ last eight home games.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in seven of the Canadiens’ last eight night games against opponents on a losing streak.
Pittsburgh Penguins Player Prop Facts
- Bryan Rust has scored a goal in each of the Penguins’ last four home games.
- Sidney Crosby has recorded at least one assist in seven of the Penguins’ last eight games against the Canadiens at PPG Paints Arena.
- Ryan Shea has recorded three hits against the Canadiens this season – most against any opponent.
Montreal Canadiens Player Prop Facts
- Oliver Kapanen has scored a goal in three of the Canadiens’ last four road games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- Lane Hutson has recorded at least one assist in five of the Canadiens’ last six games.
- Cole Caufield ranks T1st in the league for Game Winning Goals (5) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Pittsburgh Penguins rank 3rd in the league in power play percentage this season (29.47%).
- The Pittsburgh Penguins have recorded the equal-longest losing streak (8 games) in the NHL this season.
- The Montreal Canadiens rank 4th in the league in power play percentage this season (26.32%).
- The Montreal Canadiens rank T8th in the league for goals per game this season (3.20).
Canadiens vs Penguins Prediction
The Canadiens have won both previous meetings against the Penguins this season, at home by 4-0 and on the road by 4-2. But the Penguins have won their six meetings before that span.
In this Canadiens vs Penguins Prediction, the Penguins are coming as -115 home favorites. Both teams are on the second leg of a back-to-back as they faced each other yesterday in Montreal. The Penguins cannot get out of their slump as they suffered their 8th straight defeat and their second consecutive shutout loss. On the flip side, the Canadiens are 3-1 in their last 4 games and have scored four goals in five of their last six games, so I like them as road dogs in this spot. Take the Canadiens to win again today.