Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NHL match.
For the Montreal Canadiens, a defeat wouldn't be a major setback but would certainly make their path more difficult, especially with tougher fixtures ahead against the Ottawa Senators, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Carolina Hurricanes. For the Detroit Red Wings, however, a loss could effectively extinguish their playoff ambitions: the gap to the Canadiens would stretch to seven or eight points, a deficit that's nearly impossible to recover from with just five games remaining.
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are in excellent form, riding a five-game winning streak that includes victories over the Florida Panthers (4:2, 3:2 OT), the Boston Bruins (4:1), and the Philadelphia Flyers (3:2). The team has been particularly strong defensively, conceding no more than two goals in any of those five matches. On home ice, they’ve collected 62% of their total points this season and have lost just once in their last nine home games since the break—and that came via a shootout. On the offensive end, Nick Suzuki continues to shine with 84 points (27 goals, 57 assists) this season, while young defenceman Lane Hutson ranks eighth in the league for assists with 58.
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings have been poor on the road, earning just 47% of their points away from home this season and losing eight of their last nine away fixtures. Their only victory during this stretch came against the Utah Hockey Club (5:1), while in the eight defeats they conceded at least four goals in each outing. Although they did manage a 4:2 win in their most recent clash with the Canadiens, that remains their sole success in three meetings this season.
Montreal Canadiens vs Detroit Red Wings Prediction
The Montreal Canadiens are hitting form at the right time and remain a strong unit on home ice, while the Detroit Red Wings continue to struggle on the road, particularly in defence. With that in mind, we’re backing the home side to come out on top in this contest.
