Montreal Canadiens vs Dallas Stars Betting Pick & Prediction for 1/4

bangthebook nhl game preview

The NHL regular season continues with a game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Dallas Stars. The Canadiens have a record of 22-13-6, while the Stars stand at 25-9-7. This game takes place at the American Airlines Center on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at 2:00 PM.

Montreal is led by head coach Martin St. Louis and plays in the Eastern Atlantic division. The team has a conference record of 10-13. Dallas, coached by Glen Gulutzan, is in the Western Central division with a conference record of 16-8. Fans can catch the game on ESPN+.

Canadiens vs Stars Game Day Info

  • Sport: NHL
  • Teams: Montreal Canadiens vs. Dallas Stars
  • Venue: American Airlines Center
  • Date: Sunday, January 4, 2026
  • Betting Odds: Dallas Stars -213, Montreal Canadiens +178

Montreal Canadiens Team Preview

The Montreal Canadiens have shown a mixed performance recently. They defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 7-5, scoring seven goals with zero power-play goals. However, they could not score against the St. Louis Blues and lost 2-0 despite having more shots on goal.

Nick Suzuki has been a standout player for the Canadiens. He has scored 14 goals and made 31 assists in 41 games. Lane Hutson and Cole Caufield have also contributed significantly with 40 points each this season.

In the goaltending department, Jakub Dobes has been strong with 13 wins out of 21 games. Sam Montembeault has also played 16 games, securing six wins. The team has allowed 129 goals this season, ranking 22nd in that category.

Dallas Stars Team Preview

The Dallas Stars have struggled recently, losing four of their last five games. Their most recent game was a close 4-3 loss against the Chicago Blackhawks. Despite having more shots on goal, the Stars couldn’t find the back of the net enough times to secure a win.

In their recent games, the Stars have shown strong individual performances from players like Mikko Rantanen and Jason Robertson. Rantanen has contributed with goals and assists, showing his ability to create opportunities. Robertson has also been a key player, contributing goals and assisting his teammates.

The team’s overall stats show that they rank highly in goals and assists, sitting at 3rd and 2nd respectively in the league. However, their ranking in shots on goal is 28th, indicating room for improvement in offensive pressure. Goaltending has been solid, with Jake Oettinger leading the team in wins, but they have not recorded a shutout this season.

BTB Betting Pick

The Dallas Stars are favored to win against the Montreal Canadiens with a moneyline of -213. The Canadiens have a moneyline of +178. Given the Stars’ strong performance in goals and assists, they are likely to win. The projected score is Dallas 4, Montreal 2.

The over/under line is set at 6.5. The under is favored at -115. With the projected score totaling 6, betting on the under seems reasonable. The goaltending stats support a lower-scoring game with solid defenses on both sides.