Detroit Red Wings vs. Montreal Canadiens Pick & Prediction DECEMBER 21st 2024
Preview and Prediction
Patrik Laine has been incredibly productive, particularly on the man advantage, since joining the Montreal Canadiens. He also remains highly effective against the Detroit Red Wings throughout his career.
After scoring the game-winning goal in Detroit on Friday, Laine aims to continue his hot streak and help the Canadiens sweep their back-to-back series against the Red Wings on Saturday night.
Acquired by Montreal from the Columbus Blue Jackets in an August trade, Laine missed the first 24 games of the season due to a knee injury. However, in just eight games since making his Canadiens debut on December 3rd, he has already tallied an impressive seven goals - all of which have come on the power play.
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In fact, all 25 of Montreal's power play goals since December 3rd have been scored by Laine.
His most recent goal came with just under eight minutes left in the third period on Friday, giving the Canadiens a 4-3 lead. That lead held, and Montreal has now won back-to-back games following a stretch of one win in four games.
"His ability to score goals and help the team win on the power play is crucial," said Montreal coach Martin St. Louis. "It's a major factor when your special teams are performing well."
The Canadiens, who have gone 6-3-1 in their last 10 home games, secured just their fourth road win of the season on Friday - tied for the second fewest in the NHL.
"It was a great win for us, and now we turn our focus to tomorrow," said Montreal defenseman Kaiden Guhle.
Laine, who has scored four goals in the past two games, has an impressive 11 goals (including two on the power play) and eight assists in 21 career games against the Red Wings.
Detroit enters the second game of their home-and-home series on a 3-5-2 stretch.
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On Friday, goals from Patrick Kane, Joe Veleno, and Tyler Motte gave the Red Wings a 3-2 lead early in the third period. However, they were unable to hold onto the lead in their attempt for a third consecutive win.
Fortunately for Detroit, they won't have to wait long for a chance to redeem themselves.
"That's the best part about it," said Red Wings star Dylan Larkin, who was held scoreless on Friday after recording six points (all assists) in the previous five games. "We just need to capitalize on our opportunities and play with more intensity. Limit our mistakes."
Kane has recorded two goals and two assists in the last three games after going nine straight games without a point. Meanwhile, teammate Michael Rasmussen tallied two assists on Friday, bringing his point total to four in the last three games.
Detroit goalie Cam Talbot made 29 saves on Friday and has a 3.89 goals-against average in his current 0-3-1 stretch.
Alex Lyon could potentially start in the back-to-back scenario after allowing four goals on 19 shots in a 6-4 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday - his first game back after missing nine games with a lower-body injury.
Montreal's Sam Montembeault (2.93 GAA) made 25 saves to secure his second consecutive win on Friday, and he may be in net again on Saturday. Canadiens backup Cayden Primeau has allowed 11 goals on 60 shots in his last three games - two of which he started.
Teammate Jake Evans, who scored a short-handed goal in his 300th career NHL game on Friday, has recorded four points in the last four games.
Detroit Red Wings vs. Montreal Canadiens
Jonathan Bernier made 42 saves, Mike Green had a goal and an assist and the visiting Detroit Red Wings held off the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 on Saturday.
Bernier nearly recorded Detroit's first shutout this season until Montreal scored in the final minute. Tyler Bertuzzi had the first goal for Detroit, which has won two straight following a 12-game losing streak.
The Wings also won at Montreal 4-2 earlier this season. Prior to that game, the Wings hadn't won in regulation in Montreal since 2007.
Tomas Tatar scored the lone Canadiens goal while Carey Price stopped 18 shots.
The Wings were 1-for-4 on the power play while the Canadiens only had one power play opportunity.
Detroit forward Anthony Mantha, the team's leading goal scorer, returned after missing eight games with a knee injury.
Montreal outshot Detroit 12-7 in the first period but the Wings emerged with a 1-0 lead.
The Wings struck first at 3:21 when Dylan Larkin won a puck battle behind the Canadiens' net and fed Bertuzzi, who scored his 11th goal of the season at point-blank range.
The Canadiens had twice as many shots on goal as the Wings (10-4) in the second period but still couldn't put the puck past Bernier.
Early in the third, Bernier made a sprawling save with his catching glove when Nick Suzuki tried to tuck in a rebound.
With Montreal's Riley Barber in the penalty box for slashing Filip Hronek, the Wings extended their lead to 2-0 at the 7:42 mark of the third. Andreas Athanasiou passed the puck to the point to Green, who fired a shot that banked off the inside of the goalpost and into the net. Valtteri Filppula got the second assist on Green's second goal of the season.
The Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher was called for cross checking against Patrik Nemeth with 3:32 remaining, allowing the Wings to burn more clock without any pressure on their net.
Former Detroit forward Tatar scored on a blast from the point with 46 seconds remaining. Shea Weber fed the puck to Tatar.