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Table of Contents
Match Facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Matchup | Montreal Canadiens vs Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Date | Sunday, December 21, 2025 |
| Time | 7:00 PM ET |
| Venue | PPG Paints Arena |
| Location | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Game type | Eastern Conference matchup (home-and-home set) |
| Broadcast | ESPN+ |
| Schedule spot | Second night of a back-to-back for both teams |
For more games on the card, check today’s NHL picks and team context on the NHL teams page.
Line and Odds
| Market | Canadiens | Penguins |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | -105 | -115 |
| Puck line | +1.5 (-250) | -1.5 (+205) |
| Total | Over 6.5 (-105) | Under 6.5 (-115) |
For live numbers and late movement, use the NHL odds and lines page.
Movement Matchup
This is priced like a tight game with Pittsburgh getting a small home bump, even with the Penguins sliding. The total at 6.5 is the key decision point: it’s a number that assumes at least one team gets to three, and it can flip quickly if the game opens up early on special teams.
The situational angle is fatigue. Both teams are on back-to-backs, which typically pushes mistakes higher as legs go late. The counter is style: Montreal’s recent run has been built on cleaner puck management and protecting leads, while Pittsburgh has been fighting the game and struggling to finish.
Breakdown Injury Reports
Montreal Canadiens
| Player | Position | Status | Impact note |
|---|---|---|---|
| None | N/A | No major injuries reported | No expected lineup limitation |
Pittsburgh Penguins
| Player | Position | Status | Impact note |
|---|---|---|---|
| None | N/A | No major injuries reported | No expected lineup limitation |
Montreal Canadiens Recent performance
Montreal blanked Pittsburgh 4-0 on Saturday night, with Josh Anderson scoring twice and Jacob Fowler posting his first NHL shutout. The Canadiens have been playing confident hockey lately, keeping games structured and forcing opponents to earn offense rather than giving it away with high-risk plays.
That approach travels well, especially on the second night of a back-to-back. If Montreal controls the neutral zone and keeps Pittsburgh from generating rush chances, they can drag this into another tight game decided by a small number of high-leverage moments.
Pittsburgh Penguins Recent performance
Pittsburgh enters in a rough spot, winless in eight overall and coming off back-to-back 4-0 losses. The effort level has shown up, but the scoring hasn’t. When the Penguins fall behind, they’ve struggled to convert chances into goals and turn pressure into sustained zone time.
The response game is straightforward: cleaner exits, more direct attacks to the net, and early energy to get the crowd into it. If Pittsburgh can score first, it changes the entire feel compared to playing from behind again.
Betting Insights and Trends
Montreal’s recent success points to a controlled game script. They’ve been comfortable in one-goal games and have played with enough patience to close out wins when leading after two periods.
Pittsburgh’s best path is to force a faster pace early and get the game into special teams. If the Penguins can create power-play opportunities and cash in, the total becomes more live. If not, this profiles like another lower-event game where the first mistake matters more than raw shot totals.
For more matchup betting concepts, the NHL betting guide is the best reference.
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Best Bets and Prediction
Best bet: Under 6.5 (-115)
Projected score: Canadiens 3, Penguins 2
Lean: Canadiens moneyline (-105)
Montreal has been playing cleaner hockey recently, and their structure gives them a strong chance to control the flow again.
Handicapper section
If you’re betting NHL regularly, one pick isn’t the edge. The edge is following the cappers who are actually profitable over volume. Visit the handicapper leaderboard to sort by profit and ROI, then compare their top plays with the rest of the slate on today’s NHL picks.
