Montreal Canadiens vs Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Pick & Prediction for 12/21

bangthebook nhl game preview

The Montreal Canadiens will take on the Pittsburgh Penguins in an NHL regular season game. This game will be held at the PPG Paints Arena on Sunday, December 21, 2025, at 7:00 PM. Fans can catch the action on ESPN+.

The Canadiens come into this game with a record of 19-12-4. They are led by head coach Martin St. Louis and play in the Eastern Atlantic Division. The Penguins, with a record of 14-11-9, are guided by head coach Dan Muse and compete in the Eastern Metropolitan Division. Both teams will aim to improve their standings in their respective divisions.

Canadiens vs Penguins Game Day Info

  • Sport: NHL
  • Teams: Montreal Canadiens vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
  • Venue: PPG Paints Arena
  • Date: Sunday, December 21, 2025
  • Betting Odds: Montreal Canadiens +1.5 (-250), Pittsburgh Penguins -1.5 (+198), Montreal Canadiens MoneyLine +100, Pittsburgh Penguins MoneyLine -120, Over/Under 6.5 (-101/-122)

Montreal Canadiens Team Preview

The Montreal Canadiens have been strong recently with three wins in their last five games. They shut out the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-0 in their latest game. Josh Anderson had two goals, and Jakub Dobes was solid in the net.

Jakub Dobes has been a key player for the Canadiens. He has 12 wins and 434 saves this season. His performance against the Chicago Blackhawks, where he made 14 saves on 15 shots, helped secure a 4-1 victory.

Offensively, Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield have been leading the team. Suzuki has 40 points with 10 goals and 30 assists. Caufield has 35 points, including 17 goals, making him a crucial part of their attack.

Pittsburgh Penguins Team Preview

The Pittsburgh Penguins have struggled in their recent games. They have lost their last five games, including a 4-0 loss against the Montreal Canadiens. In that game, the Penguins managed 31 shots but failed to score.

Sidney Crosby leads the team in points this season. He has 19 goals and 16 assists in 34 games. Bryan Rust has also contributed with 12 goals and 16 assists.

In goal, Stuart Skinner has been the main option for the Penguins. He has 11 wins and 10 losses in 25 games. Arturs Silovs has played 15 games, securing 4 wins and 5 losses.

BTB Betting Pick

The Pittsburgh Penguins are favored to win against the Montreal Canadiens with a moneyline of -120. The Canadiens have a moneyline of +100. Pittsburgh has a slight edge in skater stats, ranking higher in goals and assists. With these factors, picking the Penguins to win is a reasonable choice.

The total for this game is set at 6.5, with the under at -122. Both teams have strong offensive stats, but their goaltending numbers suggest a tighter game. Based on these stats, a projected score could be 3-2 in favor of Pittsburgh. Taking the under 6.5 seems like a safer bet.