The Montreal Canadiens are set to face off against the St. Louis Blues in an afternoon game on Saturday, January 3. This matchup marks the second encounter of the season between the two teams, with the Blues edging out the Canadiens 4-3 in their previous game just under a month ago.
As the Canadiens continue to build momentum, predictions for this game suggest they will extend their successful streak on the road. Currently, Montreal holds a strong record of six wins in their last ten games and has only suffered one regulation loss during this stretch. Meanwhile, St. Louis has been struggling, scoring the least number of goals in the NHL and allowing the fourth-most, creating a challenging situation against a Canadiens squad that possesses the league’s third-best offense.
Montreal’s road performance is impressive, boasting a record of 12 wins, 3 losses, and 5 overtime losses. They are coming off significant road victories against the Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers. Additionally, the Canadiens’ fifth-ranked power play is poised to capitalize on the Blues’ 23rd-ranked penalty kill.
Ivan Demidov, Canadiens forward, has been making headlines with an impressive run in the Calder Trophy race, recording an assist in each game during a five-game point streak, which includes three goals and six assists. He has accumulated 12 assists in 15 games since December 2, putting him on track for a season total of over 70 points. His linemates, Juraj Slafkovsky and Oliver Kapanen, are also gaining recognition, having been selected to represent their nations at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Lane Hutson’s performance has further solidified the Canadiens’ presence in the league, leading all NHL defensemen with 34 assists this season. Hutson has shown remarkable intent to shoot, particularly in recent games, bolstering his profile for the Norris Trophy.
As for betting odds, the Canadiens are favored on the moneyline at -125, while the Blues stand at +105. The puck line offers Canadiens -1.5 at +190 and Blues +1.5 at -230, with an over/under set at 5.5 goals.
Historically, St. Louis has a good track record against Montreal in recent home meetings, winning three of the last four encounters.
The game is scheduled to take place at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, with puck drop set for 4:00 p.m. ET and will be available on TSN2 and FDSN Midwest. As the Canadiens aim to continue their winning ways, fans can anticipate an action-packed game filled with youthful talent and playoff aspirations.