Ahead of tonight's matchup against the Florida Panthers, the Montreal Canadiens are in the midst of another strong run of play, owning a 6-2-1 record over the last nine games.
It’s been their ability to keep the puck out that’s led to so much success. My Panthers vs. Canadiens predictions expect that trend to continue in a divisional battle against a Florida team giving up very little offensively.
Let’s take a closer look at my NHL picks for Saturday, March 15.
Canadiens vs Panthers prediction
My Canadiens pick: Under 6 (-125 at BET99)
My Canadiens analysis
The Montreal Canadiens have not given up a lot of goals since returning from the 4 Nations break. They’ve conceded three or fewer in eight of nine games, with the lone exception coming at the end of their four-game road trip in Seattle.
That game featured backup goaltender Jakub Dobes between the pipes, which will not be the case in this one.
Even including that five spot allowed to Seattle, the Canadiens have held opponents to just 21 goals over the last nine contests. That’s impressive, considering six of them were played on the road.
They have a strong chance of keeping the Florida Panthers to a manageable number Saturday night. As good as the defending champs are, they’re playing without several big names, including the likes of Matthew Tkachuk, Brad Marchand, and Aaron Ekblad.
Meanwhile, Florida has allowed just 12 goals over their last nine games — and it’s not just because of goaltending. The Panthers rank 1st in 5v5 shot suppression during that span.
They’ve done a fantastic job of limiting shots, allowing 25 or fewer in four straight games — including against high-powered lineups like the Maple Leafs and Blue Jackets.
This strikes me as a 3-1 type of game, where neither team can reach the peak of its powers offensively.
Canadiens vs Panthers same-game parlay (SGP)
Under 5.5
Juraj Slavkovsky Over 1.5 shots
Evan Rodrigues Under 2.5 shots
Juraj Slafkovsky has upped his shot volume. He has recorded multiple shots on goal in eight of his last nine games, averaging three along the way.
It’s not as if Slafkovsky feasted on lesser opponents. He was able to get the job done against strong shot suppression sides like the Hurricanes, Oilers, and Canucks.
The Panthers don’t make life easy on opponents, but Slafkovsky is the kind of big body who can power through contact and generate some volume from in tight. Slafkovsky has also managed 5+ shots in two of the last three games against the Panthers.
Evan Rodrigues enters this game in a cold spell. He has points in just one of his last nine games and has combined to record only seven shots over the last five. Rodrigues skates on a line with Sam Bennett and Mackie Samoskevich, both of whom generate shots at a higher clip.
He doesn’t skate on the top power play, either, so he doesn’t get many reps in situations where he’d be the go-to shooter.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Canadiens vs Panthers odds
Canadiens vs Panthers live odds
Canadiens vs Panthers opening odds
- Puck line: Montreal +1.5 (-159) | Florida -1.5 (+137)
- Moneyline: Montreal +168 | Florida -193
- Over/Under: Over 6 (-111) | Under 6 (-103)
Odds courtesy of BET99
Canadiens vs Panthers trend
Florida has only hit the game total Over in 47 of its last 105 games (-14.20 Units / -12% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Panthers.
How to watch Canadiens vs Panthers
| Location | Bell Centre, Montreal, QC |
| Date | Saturday, 3-15-2025 |
| Puck drop | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | CITY |
Canadiens vs Panthers latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
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