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Canucks vs Canadiens Picks and Predictions – Monday January 12, 2026
Vancouver hits the Bell Centre on Monday night coming off another rough showing, and the gap between these teams right now is more than just the standings. The Canucks are in a stretch where they’re chasing games early, leaking goals in bunches, and asking their goaltending to survive too many broken plays.
Montreal also took a shutout loss Saturday, but their month-long form still looks like a team built to contend in the Atlantic. The Canadiens’ edge here is stability: stronger five-on-five detail, better puck management, and far fewer “self-inflicted” sequences that hand opponents free offense.
Vancouver Canucks vs Montreal Canadiens Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should monitor updated NHL odds as goalie confirmation can move both the side and total.
| Team | Moneyline | Puck Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver Canucks | +157 | +1.5 (-163) | 6.0 (O -122 / U +100) |
| Montreal Canadiens | -188 | -1.5 (+135) | 6.0 (O -122 / U +100) |
Vancouver Canucks Betting Form
Vancouver’s issues aren’t subtle. They’re giving up too much in live play, they’re not holding leads, and the “get behind early” pattern is killing any chance to play a controlled road game. When a team is constantly chasing, the shot selection gets worse, the neutral-zone turnovers pile up, and the defensive structure starts to look like it’s being negotiated shift to shift.
The goaltending situation matters a lot here. Thatcher Demko going to injured reserve raises the volatility of every market tied to Vancouver, especially the team total and the full-game total. If the Canucks are forced into a less settled crease plan, they have to defend the slot cleanly to avoid another multi-goal first period. That has not been their reality lately.
For trends and recent form, check the Vancouver Canucks stats and results. Also monitor the Vancouver Canucks injury report before you bet.
Montreal Canadiens Betting Form
Montreal’s shutout loss to Detroit reads more like a flat night than a true warning sign. Over the last month they’ve still played like a team that can win different types of games, including the slower, grindy ones you often get at home in January. The Canadiens’ best version is patient: protect the middle, get pucks behind the opposing defense, and make the other team play full-rink hockey for 60 minutes.
That profile is especially useful against a Vancouver team that’s struggling to stay connected defensively. If Montreal gets to its forecheck early, they can force Vancouver into rushed clears and repeated defensive-zone sequences. That’s how you turn a moneyline favorite into a legit -1.5 look, because tired legs equal penalties and bad line changes.
For matchup context and home splits, see the Montreal Canadiens schedule and stats. For availability, check the Montreal Canadiens injury report before puck drop.
Vancouver Canucks vs Montreal Canadiens Matchup Breakdown
At 5v5, this sets up as Montreal’s pace and structure versus Vancouver’s current tendency to unravel when they don’t get the first goal. The Canadiens don’t need a track meet. They just need to win the territory battle and keep forcing Vancouver to execute breakouts under pressure. If the Canucks keep losing net-front battles and giving up second looks, it’s going to be a long night.
Special teams can widen the gap. Vancouver’s discipline has to be sharp because short-handed situations are where a struggling road team can get buried fast. Montreal’s power play doesn’t need to be perfect to matter. It just needs to keep Vancouver from feeling like they can “hang around” with a few good shifts.
Goaltending is the swing variable. Montreal’s starter isn’t something you should assume, and Vancouver’s crease is clearly in flux. If Vancouver starts a less experienced option, the Canadiens’ -1.5 becomes more attractive. If Vancouver gets a steady performance in net, the +1.5 is at least defensible, but they still have to solve the bigger problem: playing a full 60 without long defensive collapses.
Vancouver Canucks vs Montreal Canadiens Predictions and Best Bets
This is a spot where I’m willing to lay the goal and a half with the home favorite because the matchup and the current form both point the same direction. Montreal has the cleaner defensive habits, and Vancouver’s recent game scripts keep producing exactly what a -1.5 bettor wants: early deficits and increasing desperation as the game goes on.
The moneyline is playable, but it’s priced like a win expectation, not a value position. If you’re backing Montreal, the better payout is tied to a multi-goal margin, and Vancouver’s current profile makes that realistic, especially with the goaltending uncertainty and the travel grind.
I’m less interested in forcing the total. A 6.0 with over juice is telling you the market respects Vancouver’s defensive instability, but Vancouver’s offense has also been disappearing for long stretches. I’d rather focus on the side and let the game flow decide whether a live total angle is worth it.
Best Bet: Montreal Canadiens -1.5 (+135)
NHL Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you’re betting hockey daily, you’ll do better long term by comparing games across the slate instead of treating each matchup like its own universe. The NHL picks page helps you scan where sides and totals are getting the strongest support.
To follow results instead of noise, use the best handicappers and check the leaderboard to see who’s producing over volume. If you want full cards and packaged plays, you can access them through buy picks. For more game previews across the schedule, the NHL previews hub keeps everything organized, and the NHL betting guide plus the Stanley Cup betting guide help sharpen your process for pricing goaltending, special teams, and schedule spots.
