Edmonton Oilers vs Montréal Canadiens Picks and Predictions October 23rd 2025

Montreal Canadiens vs Edmonton Oilers Betting Preview

The Edmonton Oilers make a short return home Thursday night to host the red-hot Montreal Canadiens at Rogers Place. Puck drop is set for 9:00 PM ET on ESPN+.

Edmonton capped a five-game road trip with a 3-2 overtime win in Ottawa and looks to build on that momentum before another road back-to-back in Seattle and Vancouver. Connor McDavid scored his first goal of the season, while Isaac Howard notched his first career tally.

Montreal enters the matchup on a tear, winning six of its last seven games, including a 2-1 overtime victory over Calgary on Wednesday. Jakub Dobes continues to impress in net, improving to 4-0-0 with a 1.47 GAA and a .950 save percentage. The Canadiens are 3-0 in overtime and tied for the league lead in points.

For full team stats and division standings, visit the NHL teams page

Line Movement and Odds

Opening lines listed Edmonton -215 on the moneyline and Montreal +185, with a total of 6.0 goals (Over -115, Under -105). As of Thursday morning, action has leaned slightly toward Montreal, moving the Oilers to -200 and the Canadiens to +170.

Roughly 62% of public tickets are on Edmonton, but sharp bettors have shown interest in the Canadiens puck line at +1.5. The total has seen modest under money with 55% of handle favoring a lower-scoring game.

Compare updated numbers anytime on the NHL odds page

Matchup Breakdown

Oilers Outlook:
Edmonton is 3-3-1 after an uneven road stretch. Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins share the team lead with four goals each, while the Oilers’ power play ranks fifth in the NHL. At home, they’ll rely on that unit and a physical style that ranks top 10 in blocked shots.

Canadiens Outlook:
Montreal’s fast start under Martin St. Louis has been fueled by balance — ranked third in goals (25) and fourth in assists (42). Ivan Demidov has provided instant offense, while the defense ranks 10th in blocks. With Dobes red-hot and confidence surging, Montreal poses a strong test for an Edmonton squad still finding consistency.

Explore more matchup data on the NHL previews section

Injuries and Conditions

Montreal Canadiens

• Kirby Dach (C) – Questionable, lower body
• Kaiden Guhle (D) – Out, lower body
• Patrik Laine (RW) – Questionable, lower body
• David Reinbacher (D) – Out, hand
• William Trudeau (D) – Out, undisclosed

See full details on the Canadiens injury report

Edmonton Oilers

• Zach Hyman (LW) – Out, upper body
• Mattias Janmark (C) – Out, undisclosed
• Kasperi Kapanen (RW) – Out, undisclosed
• Alec Regula (D) – Out, undisclosed

Check updates on the Oilers injury report

Best Bets and Prediction

Montreal’s strong early-season form meets an Edmonton team that has yet to settle into rhythm. The Oilers’ home advantage and elite power play make them favorites, but the Canadiens +1.5 puck line (-135) offers more value.

Projected score: Oilers 4, Canadiens 3
Best Bet: Canadiens +1.5
Lean: Over 6.0

ScoresAndStats Handicappers and Picks

Find expert analysis on the NHL picks page and track performance on the handicapper leaderboard. For premium releases, explore service plays

Learn more about betting strategy in the Bettors Handbook

Join now for expert NHL insights and free picks.