Canadiens vs. Red Wings prediction: Montreal favored to win Thursday's NHL matchup [3/19/2026]

The Detroit Red Wings will take on the Montreal Canadiens, in what is expected to be a close NHL game, at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday, commencing at 7:00 PM ET.

Based on the latest simulations, Dimers' proven NHL model gives the Canadiens a slight edge with a 51% win probability over the Red Wings.

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

Habs vs. Red Wings prediction: Who will win and cover?

Using trusted machine learning and data analysis, we have simulated the result of Thursday's NHL game between the Canadiens and Red Wings 10,000 times as part of our NHL predictions coverage.

Our independent predictive model currently gives the Canadiens a 51% chance of beating the Red Wings.

According to our model, the Red Wings (+1.5) have a 71% chance of covering the puck line, while the over/under total of six goals has a 51% chance of going over.

Canadiens vs. Red Wings odds

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

Bet Type	Canadiens	Red Wings
Puck Line	-1.5 (+220)	+1.5 (-250)
Moneyline	-113	-105
Total	o6 (-120)	u6 (+100)

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

Canadiens vs. Red Wings picks and best bet

After matching our predictions against the best current 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	Red Wings +1.5	-250
Moneyline	Red Wings	-105
Total	Under 6	+100

According to our NHL best bets, the top play to make on this game is Under 6 total goals.

These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.

Canadiens vs. Red Wings player props

Who will score a goal in Canadiens vs. Red Wings?

According to our model, Alex DeBrincat is most likely to score an anytime goal in Canadiens vs. Red Wings.

Our projections give DeBrincat a 40.1% chance of scoring a goal at Little Caesars Arena, while the star is an 8.1% chance of netting the first goal the game.

Anytime goal scorer predictions

Montreal Canadiens

Player	Anytime Goal Probability
Cole Caufield	37.6%
Nick Suzuki	30.9%
Ivan Demidov	24.2%
Alex Newhook	22.8%
Juraj Slafkovsky	22.4%

Detroit Red Wings

Player	Anytime Goal Probability
Alex DeBrincat	40.1%
Lucas Raymond	32.4%
Patrick Kane	27.8%
Marco Kasper	24.7%
Emmitt Finnie	21.0%

First goal scorer predictions

Montreal Canadiens

Player	First Goal Probability
Cole Caufield	8.4%
Nick Suzuki	6.3%
Ivan Demidov	4.4%
Alexandre Texier	4.1%
Alex Newhook	3.9%

Detroit Red Wings

Player	First Goal Probability
Alex DeBrincat	8.1%
Lucas Raymond	6.5%
Patrick Kane	4.8%
Marco Kasper	4.2%
David Perron	3.6%

Habs vs. Red Wings game-day updates and essential details

Thursday's action between the Red Wings and Canadiens at Little Caesars Arena is scheduled to commence at 7:00 PM ET.

• Who: Montreal Canadiens vs. Detroit Red Wings
• Date: Thursday, March 19, 2026
• Time: 7:00 PM ET/4:00PM PT
• Venue: Little Caesars Arena

Conclusion

We predict the Canadiens, with a 51% win probability, will likely beat the Red Wings on Thursday.

AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Canadiens vs. Red Wings insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are sourced 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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