Prediction: Chicago Blackhawks VS Montréal Canadiens 2025-12-18
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Montréal Canadiens: A Tale of Two Sieves (With a Touch of Class)
Ladies and gentlemen, buckle up for a hockey clash that’s like watching two leaky sieves try to hold back a hurricane—only one sieve is slightly less leaky. The Chicago Blackhawks (13-14-6) and Montréal Canadiens (17-12-4) collide on December 18, 2025, in a game so injury-riddled it could win an Oscar for “Best Cast of Absentee Players.” Let’s break it down with the precision of a Zamboni and the humor of a penguin in a blazer.
Parsing the Odds: A Numbers Game for the Perplexed
The Canadiens are favored at -191, implying a 66.1% implied probability to win. The Blackhawks, at +159, have a 38.9% chance—which, in hockey terms, means “hope.” But let’s not let math bore us. Montreal’s edge comes from their 3.2 goals per game (11th in the NHL) and Chicago’s offensive struggles (2.8 GPG, 24th). Meanwhile, the Hawks’ defense (3.0 GAA, 15th) is slightly better than Montreal’s sieve-like 3.5 GAA (30th).
The total goals line is 5.5, and with both teams averaging 3.3 GAA and 3.2 GAA against opponents, this is a “spray and pray” affair. The Over is a 50-50 coin flip with a side of chaos.
Injury Montage: A Hollywood Blockbuster
Chicago’s Absentees:
- Connor Bedard (shoulder, out): The league’s brightest star is sidelined, which is like asking a toaster to conduct an orchestra.
- Nick Foligno (hand, out): A veteran leader lost, leaving the Hawks’ forwards to communicate via charades.
- Shea Weber (retired): The team’s emotional leader is now a “what-if” in a Hall of Fame bio.
Montreal’s Absentees:
- Patrik Laine (abdomen), Kirby Dach (foot), Kaiden Guhle (lower body): The Canadiens’ defense and wings are down, leaving them with the offensive firepower of a team that forgot their highlight reels.
- Sam Montembeault (out): Their backup goalie is injured, but Spencer Turnbull (or is it Spencer Knight?) is here to “protect the net like a soggy pizza box.”
The Humor: Because Hockey Needs Laughter
Let’s be real: The Canadiens are like a Swiss watch… if the watch were missing most of its gears. Their defense allows 3.5 goals per game, which is generous if you’re a goaltender but terrifying if you’re a ticket holder. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks’ offense without Bedard is a symphony orchestra where everyone plays the kazoo.
But here’s the kicker: Montreal’s Nicholas Suzuki (37 points) and Cole Caufield (33 points) are the team’s version of a “get out of jail free” card. They’ll score, you’ll sigh, and the Canadiens will win 4-3 in OT—because this game is as chaotic as a toddler in a candy store.
Prediction: Why the Canadiens Deserve Your Bets
Despite the injuries, Montreal’s 12.6% shooting percentage (2nd in the NHL) is a dagger in their toolkit. Chicago’s 11.0%? More like a butter knife. The Hawks’ defense might keep this close, but their offense is a broken VCR—flickering, frustrating, and ultimately futile.
Final Verdict: Bet the Montréal Canadiens (-1.5) and the Over 5.5 goals. Why? Because when two teams play like they’re on a trampoline court, someone’s gonna bounce into a lead. The Canadiens’ edge in scoring and recent 65% points in their last 10 games gives them the edge—unless Chicago’s goaltenders start performing magic tricks.
Final Score Prediction: Canadiens 4, Blackhawks 3 (OT). And no, the Hawks’ “last-minute own goal” isn’t in the script… but it might be in the forecast.
Stay sharp, stay skeptical, and never trust a team that can’t keep its players healthy. Or its defense coherent. 🏒😄
Created: Dec. 18, 2025, 8:21 p.m. GMT