NFL Previews 
MLB Previews 
NBA Previews 
NHL Previews 
Soccer Previews 
Table of Contents
Original Six rivals clash Saturday night at TD Garden as the Montreal Canadiens head to Boston to take on the Boston Bruins. Puck drops at 7:00 PM ET in a divisional battle with very different stakes. Boston is locked in a tight race atop the Atlantic, while Montreal continues to build for the future — though they’ve proven capable of stealing games as underdogs.
The Bruins enter with a 30-13-6 record, among the league’s elite defensively and dominant at home. Montreal sits at 20-25-4, but they’ve been feisty — covering puck lines in eight of their last ten and showing improved 5-on-5 metrics in recent weeks. Boston is favored at -121 on the moneyline, with Montreal a short dog at +102 in what projects to be a low-scoring, grind-it-out affair.
Let’s break down where the betting edge lies — sides, totals, and possible alt-puck line value.
Smart NHL picks start here.
Let the numbers guide your bets.
Montreal Canadiens vs Boston Bruins Odds
These are the current odds for Saturday night’s matchup. Make sure to check the latest NHL odds before betting, especially as goaltender confirmations and injury updates come through.
| Team | Moneyline | Puck Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal Canadiens | +102 | +1.5 (-215) | Over 5.5 (-108) |
| Boston Bruins | -121 | -1.5 (+172) | Under 5.5 (-112) |
Montreal Canadiens Betting Form
The Canadiens remain a frustrating team to project, but they’ve covered puck lines consistently in the underdog role. They’re 6-4 in their last 10 games, including outright wins over Florida and Dallas, and continue to punch above their weight despite being one of the youngest teams in the league.
Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield continue to lead the charge offensively. Caufield, in particular, has heated up with goals in four straight. Juraj Slafkovsky is showing signs of becoming the physical, top-six winger they envisioned when drafting him. Montreal’s scoring depth remains thin, but they’re getting timely production from Jake Evans and Joel Armia.
Goaltending has been better than expected. Sam Montembeault has taken control of the crease, and his .916 save percentage in January has kept them in close games. Montreal still gives up too many high-danger chances, but they’re more structured under Martin St. Louis than they were earlier in the year.
Special teams are below average. The power play ranks just 21st at 17.8%, and the penalty kill sits near 77%. Still, their ability to frustrate better teams at even strength has kept them competitive in games like this one.
Explore full splits on the Montreal Canadiens stats and results page. Injury-wise, the Montreal Canadiens injury report shows Kaiden Guhle and Christian Dvorak both listed as out, which weakens their depth at both ends.
Boston Bruins Betting Form
Boston continues to be Boston — elite defensively, disciplined structurally, and tough to beat at home. They’re 17-5-2 at TD Garden this season and allow the fewest goals per game in the NHL. Even when they’re not scoring, they stay in control with their suffocating neutral zone trap and top-tier goaltending.
David Pastrnak remains the offensive engine, leading the team in both goals and assists. Brad Marchand hasn’t produced at his usual clip but continues to be a factor in transition and on the PK. Pavel Zacha and Charlie Coyle have stabilized the middle of the ice, even with some scoring regression in the bottom six.
Goaltending is the backbone. Jeremy Swayman is projected to start and leads the league in save percentage at .930. Boston’s goaltending tandem has allowed two or fewer goals in 10 of their last 12 games. That’s not good news for a Montreal team that relies on volume and rebounds to score.
Special teams are another strong suit. Boston ranks 3rd on the penalty kill (85.6%) and 10th on the power play (23.4%). If they win the special teams battle — which they usually do — they become very difficult to fade.
Check out the Boston Bruins schedule and stats for recent game trends. The Boston Bruins injury report includes Hampus Lindholm and Matt Grzelcyk as day-to-day, but neither injury is expected to affect the core matchups.
Montreal Canadiens vs Boston Bruins Matchup Breakdown
There’s a reason this total is at 5.5 and not 6 — both teams trend to the under in their current forms, and the expected goaltending matchup tilts that direction even further. Boston rarely gives up goals at home, and Montreal doesn’t have the firepower to crack teams that protect the house like the Bruins do.
At 5-on-5, the Bruins dominate expected goals share and control shot quality, but Montreal has narrowed that gap recently. The Habs still rank bottom-10 in defensive metrics but are no longer a pure fade in tough spots. Their forecheck has improved, and they’ve done a better job defending the middle of the ice.
Where Boston clearly separates is on special teams and in net. If the Habs take penalties — and they average 3.6 minors per game — they’ll give Boston 2–3 power play chances, which could be enough. The Bruins don’t need volume to capitalize.
Schedule-wise, both teams come in rested. Boston has a bigger matchup ahead vs. Tampa, but they rarely overlook division opponents — especially Montreal.
Key matchup angles:
- Boston home penalty kill vs. Montreal road power play (clear Boston edge)
- Goaltending: Swayman is elite, Montembeault has been solid but less tested
- Pace: Slower game favors Bruins control
- Puck line: Canadiens have covered in 8 of their last 10
If you’re building confidence with NHL side bets, check out this expert hockey betting guide to spot value edges beyond just win-loss records.
Trusted NHL betting insight.
Built for bettors who want profit.
Montreal Canadiens vs Boston Bruins Predictions and Best Bets
At -121, Boston is fairly priced given their home dominance and defensive ceiling. But the Canadiens are scrappy enough to make that number unplayable on the moneyline alone. For me, the value lies in two directions: Bruins in a low-scoring win or Canadiens covering the puck line in another close game.
Montreal has been a strong underdog puck line team all season — especially in low-total games. If you’re looking for parlay legs, Montreal +1.5 at -215 is playable. If you’re seeking plus-money, Bruins to win by one goal (or exact score props like 2-1 or 3-2) are intriguing.
As for the total, I lean Under 5.5. Boston controls pace, and if Swayman starts as expected, Montreal may struggle to score at all.
Lean: Bruins ML (-121), Under 5.5 (-112)
Puck line lean: Canadiens +1.5 (-215)
Best Bet: Under 5.5 (-112)
NHL Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
Looking for more NHL betting action? The NHL picks page at ScoresAndStats brings you daily picks and analysis from top-performing handicappers. Every bet is tracked, rated, and backed by current form and matchup data.
Compare your favorite experts on the best handicappers page, or monitor success trends via the handicapper leaderboard. Premium selections are available on the buy picks page for those seeking high-confidence plays.
Sharpen your edge even further with our expert betting guide library, covering everything from puck line strategy to market timing.
