The Edmonton Oilers (35-22-4) will host the surging Montreal Canadiens (30-26-5) at Rogers Place on Thursday night in what promises to be a compelling matchup between teams heading in opposite directions.
Montreal enters the contest riding an impressive five-game winning streak that has pushed them within striking distance of a wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, while the Oilers have stumbled recently, dropping six of their last seven games despite remaining second in the Pacific Division.
The high-powered Oilers offense, led by Leon Draisaitl's 92 points and Connor McDavid's 77 points, continues to generate the most shots per game in the NHL (32.0), though they've struggled to convert these opportunities into wins lately.
Montreal's resurgence has been bolstered by strong performances from Cole Caufield (30 goals) and Nick Suzuki (65 points), along with goaltender Sam Montembeault, who has won his last four starts.
Historical matchups favor the home team, with Montreal dropping six of their last nine meetings against Edmonton, while the Oilers maintain a solid 18-11-2 record at Rogers Place this season.
This clash between two Original Six franchises sets up an intriguing battle between Montreal's improving defensive structure and Edmonton's explosive offensive capabilities, with both teams desperate to secure crucial points in their respective playoff races.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Montreal Canadiens prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Edmonton Oilers vs Montreal Canadiens matchup, our predictive model gives the Oilers a 75% chance of defeating the Habs.
Pre-game probabilities
Edmonton Oilers
Moneyline
Win %
75%
25%
Montreal Canadiens
Edmonton Oilers: 75% win probability
- Potent offense (197 goals scored, 2nd highest in Pacific Division)
- Higher league position (5th in Western Conference with 74 points)
- Better goal differential (-17 compared to Montreal's -20)
Montreal Canadiens: 25% win probability
- Poor defensive record (204 goals against, 3rd worst in Atlantic Division)
- Lower standings position (11th in Eastern Conference)
- Worse road record (indicated by 65 points in 61 games despite recent form)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts. Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts..
| Edmonton Oilers | Montreal Canadiens | |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline |
Edmonton Oilers vs. Montreal Canadiens preview
The Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens are set for an intriguing cross-conference clash at Rogers Place, with both teams experiencing drastically different fortunes in recent weeks.
The red-hot Canadiens arrive in Edmonton riding a five-game winning streak, having most recently secured a 4-3 overtime victory against the Buffalo Sabres, placing them just one point shy of the Eastern Conference's second wild card spot.
In stark contrast, the Oilers have hit a rough patch, dropping six of their last seven games, including a concerning 6-2 defeat to the Anaheim Ducks, though they still maintain second place in the Pacific Division.
Montreal's offensive duo of Cole Caufield (30 goals) and Nick Suzuki (65 points) have been instrumental in their recent surge, while goaltender Sam Montembeault has been exceptional, winning his last four starts.
The Oilers continue to showcase their offensive prowess, led by Leon Draisaitl's impressive 92 points (45 goals, 47 assists) and Connor McDavid's 77 points, though their recent defensive struggles have become a concern.
Edmonton's home record of 18-11-2 could prove crucial against a Montreal team that has posted a modest 14-14-1 road record this season.
Historical matchups favor the Oilers, with Montreal dropping six of their last nine encounters against Edmonton, while the over has hit in seven of their last ten meetings.
The goaltending battle will be particularly interesting, as Edmonton's Stuart Skinner looks to break a five-game losing streak, while Montembeault aims to extend his hot streak between the pipes.
With Edmonton's league-leading shot average (32.0 per game) and fifth-ranked power play going up against Montreal's 28th-ranked goals-against average, this matchup promises to be an offensive showcase at Rogers Place.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Montreal Canadiens form
Edmonton Oilers vs. Montreal Canadiens head to head
Edmonton Oilers
50%
Montreal Canadiens
50%
Nov 19, 2024
Montreal Canadiens
3 : 0
Edmonton Oilers
Mar 20, 2024
Edmonton Oilers
3 : 2
Montreal Canadiens
Jan 14, 2024
Montreal Canadiens
1 : 2
Edmonton Oilers
Feb 12, 2023
Montreal Canadiens
6 : 2
Edmonton Oilers
Dec 4, 2022
Edmonton Oilers
5 : 3
Montreal Canadiens
Mar 6, 2022
Edmonton Oilers
2 : 5
Montreal Canadiens
