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Canadiens vs. Penguins Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight's NHL Game

Gary Pearson

Last Updated: November 2, 2024 12:02 PM EDT • 2 min 43 sec read.

Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Seattle Kraken as we offer our Canadiens vs. Penguins prediction.
Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Seattle Kraken. Photo by Eric Bolte via Imagn Images

Two Eastern Conference bottom-dwellers collide on Saturday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh when the 4-7-1 Pittsburgh Penguins host the 4-6-1 Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET, NHL Network). 

While neither team is a Stanley Cup odds hopeful, much more was expected from the Pens after just missing out on last season's playoffs. Pittsburgh has won four straight against Montreal and enters the game as -180 favorites despite losing six of its previous seven contests. 

The Canadiens haven't been much better while dropping six of their last eight, including a 6-3 setback at home to the Pens.

Finding a value play on the puck line or moneyline for this encounter is more challenging than locating a pot of gold at the end of a faint rainbow. So our Canadiens vs. Penguins prediction focuses on the Over/Under and a Cole Caufield player prop.  

Canadiens vs. Penguins prediction

Odds via our best NHL betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale.

My best bet: Over 6.5 goals ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -125 via Betway | Implied probability: 55.56%

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Saturday's tilt in Pittsburgh is a prime Over candidate. The two teams combined for nine goals in Montreal on Oct. 14, and four of the last seven clashes between the clubs have featured at least seven markers. 

The Over has hit during four of Pittsburgh's previous six games, while six consecutive Habs' affairs have ended with at least seven goals, averaging 8.17 per contest.  

Two of the worst defenses collide

The Pens' defense fails both the statistical vetting and eye tests. Disengaged as a collective, the Penguins allow the third-most goals against per game (four) and the second-most against per 60 minutes 5-on-5 (3.62). They also give up the most expected goals against (32.57).

It gets worse for the Penguins, whose goaltenders aren't bailing them out. They allow the seventh-most goals against above expected (3.43). 

The Habs are even worse in their own zone, allowing the most goals per game (4.18) and goals against per 60 minutes 5-on-5 (4.21). Like Pittsburgh, Montreal concedes a ton of high-danger opportunities, allowing the second-most expected goals against (30.46).

Both teams boast enough offensive prowess to capitalize against inadequate defenses. Pittsburgh has been producing the most expected goals (30.99) in the NHL, and Montreal features one of the hottest goal scorers. 

A winning $10 bet will yield an $8 profit. 

Canadiens vs. Penguins player prop bet

NHL picks made Saturday; odds subject to change.

Cole Caufield prop bet: Anytime goal ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: +165 via Betway | Implied probability: 37.74%

Caufield is hotter than the hood of a car on a Las Vegas summer day.

With 10 goals in 11 games, the 23-year-old is tied for the league lead alongside Nico Hischier, and he's among the Rocket Richard Trophy odds front-runners. He's scored a goal in each of Montreal's last four contests, and Caufield has also registered six in his last six outings. The winger failed to light the lamp in just three of 11 games.

His prolific scoring streak comes thanks to an astronomically high 31.3 shooting percentage. While regression is almost certainly coming, I'm riding the hot hand against a Pens defense that allows the third-most goals per game (four).  

A winning $10 bet will profit $16.50. 

Canadiens vs. Penguins live odds & info

  • When: Saturday, Nov. 2
  • Puck drop: 7 p.m. ET
  • Where: PPG Paints Arena (Pittsburgh)
  • How to watch: NHL Network
  • Favorite: Penguins (-180 via Betway)

Canadiens-Penguins predictions made Saturday at 10 a.m. ET.

Here are our best NHL betting sites:

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Written By:
Gary Pearson
Gary Pearson has written professionally since 2010, focusing on sports betting since 2014. Before entering the sports betting space, he contributed to the Canadian Press, FanSided, the Hockey Writers, the Calgary Herald, and other publications. His work has also been featured in Sports Illustrated and Bleacher Report. Gary, who consumes sports like a blue whale devours plankton, has a penchant for writing predictions and analyses across several sports, including hockey, soccer, football, tennis, and more. He bets regularly, preferring single-game picks, props, and live betting. While there isn't a sport he has yet to dabble in, Gary prefers betting on soccer, hockey, and football. He studied at various post-secondary institutions, including the University of Calgary, SAIT Polytechnic, and Griffith University, located in Brisbane, Australia. Gary has a marketing degree and completed his bachelor's degree in journalism at Griffith University. He feels strongly that life experience is as essential as post-secondary education, helping formulate more accurate predictions and analyses. Gary believes that competing at a high level of amateur sports during his formative years helped him better understand an athlete's psyche and the nuances and complexities of a team's dynamic, both on and off the playing surface. He feels that knowledge is immeasurably important when offering his analytical expertise. He has lived on five continents and currently resides in Canada.