Prediction: Ottawa Senators VS Montréal Canadiens 2025-12-02
Montreal Canadiens vs. Ottawa Senators: A Rivalry Rekindled with a Side of Chaos
The Canadiens and Senators are set to clash in a game so physical it could double as a WWE tryout, and so statistically dense it could make a spreadsheet weep. Let’s break this down with the precision of a linesman and the wit of a late-night host who’s had one too many coffees.
Parsing the Odds: A Numbers Game
The betting market is as split as a tie in a playoff race. Montreal sits at +200 (implied probability: ~33.3%) on DraftKings, while Ottawa is the slight favorite at -220 (~68.7%). The spread? Montreal is a +1.5 underdog, and the total is set at 6.5 goals, with “Under” priced at ~54% implied odds.
Here’s what the numbers scream:
- Offense: Montreal leads in goals per game (3.42 vs. 3.04) and shooting percentage (13.8% vs. 11.7%). Ottawa’s defense, though, is stingier, allowing just 2.8 goals per game.
- Special Teams: Montreal’s power play (23.5%) is a beast compared to Ottawa’s (21.8%), but their penalty kill (76.5%) is also elite. Ottawa’s faceoff dominance (57.8% vs. 50.1%) could control the tempo.
- Goaltending: Linus Ullmark (3.10 GAA, .874 SV%) for Ottawa vs. Samuel Montembeault (3.48 GAA, .864 SV%) for Montreal. Ullmark’s stats look better, but Montembeault’s home-ice advantage might even the odds.
Digesting the News: Injuries, Bobbleheads, and Family Feuds
Montreal’s Nick Suzuki is the star to watch, a future Olympic hero who’s as smooth as a freshly waxed Zamboni. The Canadiens are also armed with the Xhekaj brothers (Florian and Arber), who’ve vowed to “manage intensity” but might instead reenact a medieval duel. Jayden Struble’s return adds a spark, though his pregame focus on “protecting teammates” over “playing his game” sounds like a guy who’s about to trip over his own skates.
Ottawa’s Brady Tkachuk is back, and let’s be honest, Tkachuk in a rivalry game is like a lit fuse near a gas station. The Senators are missing Thomas Chabot (upper-body injury), which is like asking a chef to cook without salt—still possible, but less flavorful. Their seven-game road trip? A grueling trek that’s left them 3-3-0, and they’ll need a win to avoid a .500 finish.
And let’s not forget: Montreal’s hosting Lane Hutson Bobblehead Night. If there’s one thing more distracting than a rival team, it’s a bobblehead that looks like it was 3D-printed by a toddler.
The Humor: Because Hockey Needs Laughs
- The Xhekaj brothers: If hockey had a “Most Likely to Start a Feud” award, these two would be in the finals. Imagine them circling each other like hockey’s answer to the Hatfields and McCoys, but with more slapshots and fewer rifles.
- Ottawa’s road trip: Seven games on the road? That’s longer than a Canadian winter. They’ve got the endurance of a penguin in a sauna, but hey, penguins can still waddle their way to a win.
- Samuel Montembeault: If his GAA were a toaster, it’d be on its last heating element. But give him credit—he’s Montreal’s last line of defense, which is a lot like a last line of poetry: messy, but someone’s got to do it.
Prediction: A Game for the Ages (or a Sleeper Hit)
While Ottawa’s edge in faceoffs and Ullmark’s experience give them a statistical nudge, Montreal’s home-ice advantage, superior special teams, and Nick Suzuki’s magic make them a dangerous underdog. The Senators’ road fatigue and Chabot’s absence could unravel their defense, especially against a Canadiens power play that’s sharper than a Zamboni blade.
Final Score Prediction: Montreal 3, Ottawa 2 in Overtime.
Why? Because hockey is chaos. Ottawa’s got the edge on paper, but Montreal’s got the edge in rivalry fire, and let’s be real—no one folds at the Bell Centre when bobbleheads are on the line. Bet on Montreal to shock the world, but if you’re feeling spicy, take Ottawa with the -1.5 spread. Either way, this game’s got more drama than a Netflix series about a hockey feud.
Go ahead, take the under. It’s a 6.5-goal game? Please. This is a rivalry. The only over you’ll see is the amount of caffeine in a Zamboni driver’s coffee. 🏒😄
Created: Dec. 2, 2025, 11:09 p.m. GMT