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Avalanche vs. Canadiens prediction: Why Colorado is favored to win Thursday's NHL matchup [1/29/2026]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Nick Slade, Chief Content Officer
Get Colorado Avalanche vs Montreal Canadiens predictions for NHL Thursday.
The Montreal Canadiens will face the Colorado Avalanche in NHL action at Bell Centre on Thursday, commencing at 7:00 PM ET.
The championship matchup pairs two 14–3 teams coming off sharply contrasting conference title games, with New England advancing through a low-scoring, snow-filled AFC Championship win over Denver and Seattle earning its place after a 31–27 NFC Championship thriller against the Rams.
The clash also spotlights two offensive focal points, with Drake Maye guiding New England through a composed, run-focused AFC title performance and Jaxon Smith-Njigba entering as Seattle’s primary playmaker following a 153-yard, one-touchdown outing in the NFC Championship.
Based on updated simulations, Dimers' advanced NHL model predicts the Avalanche as the most likely winner of the Avalanche vs. Canadiens game.
This article offers further insights into Thursday's matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.
Avs vs. Habs prediction: Who will win and cover?
Using powerful machine learning and data, we have simulated the outcome of Thursday's NHL game between the Avalanche and Canadiens 10,000 times as part of our NHL predictions coverage.
Our leading predictive model currently gives the Avalanche a 56% chance of defeating the Canadiens.
According to our model, the Canadiens (+1.5) have a 65% chance of covering the puck line, while the over/under total of 6.5 goals has a 51% chance of staying under.
Avalanche vs. Canadiens odds
We have sourced the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Avalanche | Canadiens |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | -1.5 (+190) | +1.5 (-218) |
| Moneyline | -125 | +110 |
| Total | o6.5 (-125) | u6.5 (+105) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Avalanche 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 | Avalanche -1.5 | +190 |
| Moneyline | Avalanche | -125 |
| Total | Under 6.5 | +105 |
According to our best NHL bets, the top play to make on this game is Under 6.5 total goals.
Avalanche vs. Canadiens player props
Who will score a goal in Avalanche vs. Canadiens?
According to our model, Nathan MacKinnon is most likely to score an anytime goal in Avalanche vs. Canadiens.
Our projections give MacKinnon a 40.4% chance of scoring a goal at Bell Centre, while the star is a 7.9% chance of netting the first goal the game.
Anytime goal scorer predictions
Colorado Avalanche
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Nathan MacKinnon | 40.4% |
| Brock Nelson | 36.4% |
| Martin Necas | 32.8% |
| Valeri Nichushkin | 27.6% |
| Victor Olofsson | 25.7% |
Montreal Canadiens
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Cole Caufield | 35.6% |
| Nick Suzuki | 26.4% |
| Juraj Slafkovsky | 24.9% |
| Alexandre Texier | 24.4% |
| Ivan Demidov | 24.3% |
First goal scorer predictions
Colorado Avalanche
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Nathan MacKinnon | 7.9% |
| Brock Nelson | 7.6% |
| Martin Necas | 5.8% |
| Valeri Nichushkin | 4.7% |
| Victor Olofsson | 4.7% |
Montreal Canadiens
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Cole Caufield | 7.4% |
| Juraj Slafkovsky | 5.0% |
| Nick Suzuki | 4.8% |
| Oliver Kapanen | 4.6% |
| Ivan Demidov | 4.5% |
Avs vs. Habs game-day updates and essential details
Thursday's matchup between the Canadiens and Avalanche at Bell Centre is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM ET.
- Who: Colorado Avalanche vs. Montreal Canadiens
- Date: Thursday, January 29, 2026
- Time: 7:00 PM ET/4:00PM PT
- Venue: Bell Centre
Conclusion
We predict the Avalanche, with a 56% win probability, will likely beat the Canadiens on Thursday.
AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Avalanche 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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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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