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Blackhawks vs. Canadiens prediction: Why Montreal is favored to win Thursday's NHL matchup [12/18/2025]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Nick Slade, Chief Content Officer
Get Chicago Blackhawks vs Montreal Canadiens predictions for NHL Thursday.
The Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks are scheduled to meet in the NHL at Bell Centre on Thursday, starting at 7:00 PM ET.
Based on the latest simulation results, Dimers' advanced NHL model projects the Canadiens as the most likely winner of the Blackhawks vs. Canadiens game.
This article offers an expanded analysis of Thursday's matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.
Hawks vs. Habs prediction: Who will win and cover?
Using innovative machine learning and statistical analysis, we have simulated the result of Thursday's NHL game between the Blackhawks and Canadiens 10,000 times as part of our NHL predictions coverage.
Our leading predictive model currently gives the Canadiens a 60% chance of defeating the Blackhawks.
According to our model, the Blackhawks (+1.5) have a 61% chance of covering the puck line, while the 5.5-goal over/under has a 54% chance of going over.
Blackhawks vs. Canadiens odds
We have researched the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Blackhawks | Canadiens |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | +1.5 (-165) | -1.5 (+145) |
| Moneyline | +154 | -176 |
| 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 | -165 |
| Moneyline | Blackhawks | +154 |
| Total | Over 5.5 | -115 |
According to our best NHL 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 42.1% chance of scoring a goal at Bell Centre, while the star is a 9.0% chance of netting the first goal the game.
Anytime goal scorer predictions
Chicago Blackhawks
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Tyler Bertuzzi | 37.0% |
| Ilya Mikheyev | 24.7% |
| Frank Nazar | 24.2% |
| Ryan Donato | 22.8% |
| Teuvo Teravainen | 22.5% |
Montreal Canadiens
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Cole Caufield | 42.1% |
| Nick Suzuki | 31.9% |
| Ivan Demidov | 30.9% |
| Oliver Kapanen | 29.5% |
| Juraj Slafkovsky | 26.1% |
First goal scorer predictions
Chicago Blackhawks
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Tyler Bertuzzi | 7.1% |
| Ilya Mikheyev | 4.8% |
| Frank Nazar | 4.3% |
| Teuvo Teravainen | 4.1% |
| Ryan Donato | 4.0% |
Montreal Canadiens
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Cole Caufield | 9.0% |
| Ivan Demidov | 6.2% |
| Oliver Kapanen | 5.9% |
| Nick Suzuki | 5.8% |
| Juraj Slafkovsky | 5.4% |
Hawks vs. Habs game-day updates and essential details
Thursday's game between the Canadiens and Blackhawks at Bell Centre is scheduled to begin 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 based on 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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Nick Slade, with nearly two decades of experience, is the Chief Content Officer at Cipher Sports Technology Group, overseeing content for Dimers. He specializes in soccer, NBA, and NHL betting, leveraging predictive analytics and machine learning to provide accurate betting insights.
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