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Montreal Canadiens vs Ottawa Senators Picks and Predictions – January 17, 2026
The Montreal Canadiens head to the Canadian Tire Centre on Wednesday night to face the Ottawa Senators in a battle of Atlantic Division bottom-half teams. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM ET, and while the playoff stakes aren’t high, there’s still betting value in this matchup — especially with two squads trying to build momentum for the second half of the season.
Ottawa is a modest -130 favorite at home, with Montreal listed as a +109 underdog. The puck line favors Ottawa -1.5 at +180, while the Canadiens’ +1.5 side is juiced heavily to -222. The total is set at 6.5 goals, with juice leaning toward the Under at -115.
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Montreal Canadiens vs Ottawa Senators Odds
These are the current betting lines for Canadiens vs Senators. Check the latest NHL odds closer to puck drop for any movement related to goalies or roster changes.
| Team | Moneyline | Puck Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal Canadiens | +109 | +1.5 (-222) | O 6.5 (-105) |
| Ottawa Senators | -130 | -1.5 (+180) | U 6.5 (-115) |
Montreal Canadiens Betting Form
The Canadiens are in the midst of a development season, but they’ve been surprisingly competitive at times — especially as underdogs. They’ve won four of their last seven and have been playing with more energy lately thanks to improved play from Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Juraj Slafkovsky.
Montreal’s 5-on-5 play is still well below league average in expected goals and shot suppression, but their transition game has improved. They’re opportunistic offensively but can get overwhelmed in the defensive zone, particularly late in games. Goaltending has been a mixed bag, with Jake Allen and Samuel Montembeault splitting time but struggling to string together consistent outings.
The puck line at -222 offers no value, so if you’re backing Montreal, it has to be on the moneyline. They’ve won outright as dogs a few times this month, and in a relatively even matchup like this, the price is playable. Always check the Montreal Canadiens injury report before betting, and view the Montreal Canadiens stats page for trends and splits.
Ottawa Senators Betting Form
Ottawa is in a similar spot — not out of the playoff picture, but lacking the consistency to string together a serious run. They’ve gone 5-5 over their last ten and continue to frustrate bettors with their volatility. The talent is there: Tim Stützle, Brady Tkachuk, and Claude Giroux can dominate shifts, but defensive breakdowns remain a nightly issue.
The Senators are among the worst in the league in goals against per game, and their penalty kill is near the bottom. Their power play, however, has flashed upside, especially at home. Goaltending has also been unreliable, with Anton Forsberg and Joonas Korpisalo both underperforming relative to expectations.
Still, Ottawa has found ways to cash as a short favorite in these types of games. They’ve played well at home and have enough firepower to overwhelm weaker defensive teams — which Montreal certainly is. At -130, the moneyline is playable if you trust their scoring depth to show up. Be sure to monitor the Ottawa Senators injury report and check the full Ottawa Senators stats and schedule for more betting context.
Montreal Canadiens vs Ottawa Senators Matchup Breakdown
These teams are stylistically similar — both prone to defensive lapses but capable of scoring in bunches. That usually leads to chaotic, high-variance hockey, which is why the total is sitting at 6.5.
Key matchup factors:
- Ottawa has the stronger top six and better special teams.
- Montreal’s goaltending has been marginally more stable, but not by much.
- Both teams rank bottom 10 in goals against per game.
- Senators have been better at home, especially against non-playoff teams.
This is one of those games where motivation and discipline will matter more than raw metrics. If Ottawa avoids penalties and plays within their structure, they should control most of the possession. But if they give Montreal power plays and turn it into a track meet, it could go either way.
Want more strategies for betting these types of volatile matchups? See our NHL betting guide for tips on evaluating edge in totals and puck lines.
NHL Lines Before the Puck Drops
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Montreal Canadiens vs Ottawa Senators Predictions and Best Bets
This is a fairly priced game. Ottawa deserves to be a small favorite at home, but it’s not a slam dunk. The Senators have more high-end skill and a better power play, and they’ve cashed in similar spots recently. Montreal has been competitive, but their defensive structure likely won’t hold up for three full periods on the road.
That said, the -130 moneyline is about as far as you’d want to go with Ottawa. The puck line at +180 is only worth a shot if you believe they can build a multi-goal lead — something they haven’t done consistently.
As for the total, 6.5 is aggressive but warranted. These teams give up goals, and both have shown scoring ability. If either power play gets going, this could hit 7+ goals quickly. The Over 6.5 (-105) is playable here, especially with both goalies underperforming.
Best Bet: Over 6.5 goals (-105)
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