Blackhawks vs. Canadiens prediction: Why Montreal is favored to win Thursday's NHL matchup [12/18/2025]

NHL action continues on Thursday at 7:00 PM ET as the Chicago Blackhawks take on the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre.

Based on the latest simulations, Dimers' proven NHL model predicts the Canadiens as the most likely winner of the Blackhawks vs. Canadiens game.

This article offers further insights into Thursday's matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.

Hawks vs. Habs prediction: Who will win and cover?

Using trusted machine learning and statistical analysis, we have simulated the outcome of Thursday's NHL matchup between the Blackhawks and Canadiens 10,000 times as part of our NHL predictions coverage.

Our leading predictive model gives the Canadiens a 60% chance of beating the Blackhawks.

According to our model, the Blackhawks (+1.5) have a 63% chance of covering the puck line, while the over/under total of 5.5 goals has a 54% chance of going over.

Blackhawks vs. Canadiens odds

We have sourced the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

Bet Type	Blackhawks	Canadiens
Puck Line	+1.5 (-170)	-1.5 (+150)
Moneyline	+146	-175
Total	o5.5 (-115)	u5.5 (-102)

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Blackhawks vs. Canadiens picks and best bet

After matching our predictions against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:

Bet Type	Pick	Bet Now
Puck Line	Blackhawks +1.5	-170
Moneyline	Blackhawks	+146
Total	Over 5.5	-115

According to our NHL best bets, the top play to make on this game is Over 5.5 total goals.

Blackhawks vs. Canadiens player props

Who will score a goal in Blackhawks vs. Canadiens?

According to our model, Cole Caufield is most likely to score an anytime goal in Blackhawks vs. Canadiens.

Our projections give Caufield a 41.9% chance of scoring a goal at Bell Centre, while the star is a 9.1% chance of registering the first goal the game.

Anytime goal scorer predictions

Chicago Blackhawks

Player	Anytime Goal Probability
Tyler Bertuzzi	37.6%
Ilya Mikheyev	25.2%
Ryan Donato	23.9%
Frank Nazar	23.8%
Teuvo Teravainen	22.5%

Montreal Canadiens

Player	Anytime Goal Probability
Cole Caufield	41.9%
Nick Suzuki	32.9%
Ivan Demidov	32.0%
Oliver Kapanen	28.7%
Juraj Slafkovsky	25.3%

First goal scorer predictions

Chicago Blackhawks

Player	First Goal Probability
Tyler Bertuzzi	7.8%
Ilya Mikheyev	5.0%
Frank Nazar	4.6%
Ryan Donato	4.3%
Teuvo Teravainen	4.2%

Montreal Canadiens

Player	First Goal Probability
Cole Caufield	9.1%
Nick Suzuki	6.3%
Ivan Demidov	6.3%
Oliver Kapanen	5.4%
Juraj Slafkovsky	4.7%

Hawks vs. Habs game-day updates and essential details

Thursday's game between the Canadiens and Blackhawks at Bell Centre is scheduled to commence at 7:00 PM ET.

• Who: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Montreal Canadiens
• Date: Thursday, December 18, 2025
• Time: 7:00 PM ET/4:00PM PT
• Venue: Bell Centre

Conclusion

We predict the Canadiens, with a 60% win probability, will likely beat the Blackhawks on Thursday.

AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Blackhawks vs. Canadiens insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are drawn from up-to-date data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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