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The Montreal Canadiens head to TD Garden to face the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, with puck drop set for 7:00 PM on ESPN+. Montreal enters 19-13-5 and third in the Eastern Atlantic Division, while Boston is 20-17-1 and fourth, with only two points separating them in the standings.
Boston is trying to stop the bleeding after a three-game skid, and the urgency is obvious because they are not where they want to be in the playoff picture. Montreal is playing steady hockey and has traveled well this season, but this is still a rivalry game in a building where Boston will come out with a short leash and a hard forecheck to close the homestand with points before the break.
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Montreal Canadiens vs Boston Bruins Odds
These are the current betting lines for Tuesday night, and bettors should always monitor updated NHL odds leading into puck drop. You can track market movement and line updates with the latest NHL odds.
| Team | Moneyline | Puck Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal Canadiens | +100 | Not listed | 6.0 |
| Boston Bruins | -120 | Not listed | 6.0 |
Montreal Canadiens Betting Form
Montreal has played solid hockey over the last couple weeks and has been reliable away from home, which matters in this price range. Their offense is not one-note, and that depth is important in a rivalry spot where the top line can get managed hard and the game often swings on the second wave and the matchup minutes. If Montreal gets balanced contributions again, they can justify the plus money.
The handicap comes down to who is available and how much offense Montreal can realistically generate if this turns into a heavy, defensive-zone game. The Canadiens have been dealing with multiple absences, and that impacts their center depth and their ability to drive play consistently for 60 minutes. Availability matters here, so monitor the Montreal Canadiens injury report before puck drop.
| Player | Status | Injury |
|---|---|---|
| Kirby Dach (C) | Out | Foot |
| Phillip Danault (C) | Questionable | Trade |
| Jake Evans (C) | Out | Lower Body |
| Kaiden Guhle (D) | Out | Lower Body |
| Patrik Laine (RW) | Out | Lower Body |
| Alex Newhook (C) | Out | Ankle |
Boston Bruins Betting Form
Boston is in a spot where urgency should translate into a cleaner start. The Bruins were outworked early against Ottawa and paid for it, and that is the kind of issue that gets exposed quickly in rivalry games when the building is juiced. Boston’s offense is still capable of creating enough to win at home, but they have to do it with a more controlled game state and fewer broken plays in front of their goalies.
Goaltending usage is something to watch. Boston just had a game where Korpisalo was pulled, and if the crease choice is not confirmed until closer to puck drop, that can shift how you should treat both side and total. Boston also needs to keep its defensive details tight because Montreal can score if you give up second chances and loose coverage around the crease. Availability matters here, so monitor the Boston Bruins injury report before puck drop.
| Player | Status | Injury |
|---|---|---|
| Viktor Arvidsson | Questionable | Lower Body |
| Jonathan Aspirot | Out | Upper Body |
| Matej Blumel | Out | Lower Body |
| Michael Callahan | Out | Lower Body |
| Jordan Harris | Out | Ankle |
| Henri Jokiharju | Out | Undisclosed |
Montreal Canadiens vs Boston Bruins Matchup Breakdown
This matchup looks like a clash between Montreal’s ability to get scoring from multiple lines and Boston’s need to impose a heavier, playoff-style game at home. If Boston is sharp early and wins the first period battle, it can dictate pace and make Montreal play through traffic. If Montreal gets into space and turns this into a skating game, the plus money becomes more attractive.
Special teams can decide this quickly. Montreal’s power play has been productive, and Boston cannot afford careless penalties if it wants to control game script. On the other side, Boston’s power play is always a threat when it gets set, and that matters if Montreal’s lineup is missing key penalty-kill pieces.
Goaltending is a real swing factor for the total at 6.0. Montreal is expected to start Jacob Fowler after Jakub Dobes played Sunday, but if that changes late, it can move the best angle on Over versus Under. For bettors trying to sharpen how they price goalie uncertainty and special teams into sides and totals, the NHL expert betting guide is a useful framework. If you are also thinking longer-range and tying pre-break form into futures value, the Stanley Cup betting guide helps connect regular-season profiles to the bigger market.
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Montreal Canadiens vs Boston Bruins Predictions and Best Bets
Boston is the lean on the moneyline at -120 because the spot sets up for a focused response at home. They have been clear about the urgency, they need the points, and they should come out with a better start after getting jumped by Ottawa. Montreal is playing well, but this is a tougher environment and Boston’s path to winning is straightforward if it stays out of the box and keeps the game in a controlled script.
Montreal’s case at +100 is that their depth can survive the matchup game and they can get offense from lines that Boston is not fully loaded to smother for 60 minutes. If Montreal stays disciplined and gets strong goaltending, this can be a one-goal game late, and that is exactly where the underdog becomes dangerous.
On the total, 6.0 is a clean number that can go either way. Montreal has enough skill to score, but Boston will want a tighter structure after its recent issues, and rivalry games often start with more caution than pace. If Boston controls the first 10 minutes and plays from in front, the Under becomes more live because Montreal has to manufacture offense in a more difficult script.
Best Bet: Boston Bruins moneyline (-120).
NHL Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
Pre-break slates can be tricky because motivation, travel, and lineup news hit all at once. The simplest way to keep your process tight is to compare multiple angles before you bet, and that starts with today’s NHL picks so you can see how different handicappers are attacking the same board.
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