Montreal Canadiens @ Columbus Blue Jackets - December 23, 2024

Alright, folks, it’s that time again! The Montreal Canadiens are rolling into Nationwide Arena to face off against the Columbus Blue Jackets, and let me tell you, my excitement levels are through the roof! I’ve got my lucky jersey on—no way I’m missing this game!

Now, before we dive into predictions, let’s break down what we’ve seen from these teams lately. Montreal is riding high after a solid win against the Red Wings, and they’ve put together a nice little winning streak with three straight victories under their belts. However, let’s not gloss over their road woes; they’ve only snagged four wins out of their last eighteen games when playing away from home. They can score—averaging about 2.8 goals per game—but their offensive zone possession isn’t quite up to par at 47% which gives me some pause.

On the flip side, the Blue Jackets have had a rough patch recently, losing six of their last seven games. But don’t let that fool you; they still manage to score around 3.2 goals per game with decent shooting stats. Their power play might be hitting just under 19%, but they’ve been able to create chances—about 2.7 opportunities each game—and when those chances convert into goals? Well, that could make all the difference tonight.

Now let’s talk defense because that’s where this matchup gets interesting. Both teams have shown some vulnerabilities in terms of penalty kill percentages: Columbus at around 73% and Montreal better at roughly 82%. However, if there’s one thing I know for certain—defense wins championships! Columbus has shown they can handle themselves at home (13-5 against the spread in their last eighteen games), and tonight’s game is crucial for them as they try to turn things around.

Here’s what I predict: Columbus will come out firing on all cylinders in front of their home crowd after a disappointing loss against Philadelphia. If we look at how both teams stack up offensively and defensively, Columbus seems slightly more balanced despite recent struggles. Expect them to cover the spread—they’re due for a win and will be feeling that urgency like never before!

As for scoring? I think we’re looking at an UNDER kind of night here—not because both teams lack talent but because playoff positioning is heating up and I expect both coaches to tighten things up defensively during this crucial matchup.

So mark your calendars—Monday night hockey is here! Grab your favorite snacks (and maybe some extra nachos) because it’s going to be an electrifying showdown! Let’s go Jackets!