The Eastern Conference Final shifts to the Great White North for Games 3 and 4 of the series. The Montreal Canadiens (1-1) picked up a 6-2 victory in Game 1 on Thursday, but the Carolina Hurricanes (1-1) bounced back with a 3-2 overtime win to knot up the series on Saturday. The Canes are still sizable -205 favorites to advance to the Stanley Cup, while the Habs sit at +170 to return to the Final.
I've got you covered if you're looking to get some skin in the game in Monday's standalone NHL contest. Below, I'll touch on the odds, key metrics, and trends, as well as lay out my argument for how I'm betting this game. Let's dive into my favorite bet for Game 3 between the Hurricanes and the Canadiens.
Puck drop is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET from the Bell Centre in Montreal, QC.
Monday’s Best NHL Picks & Predictions
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Carolina Hurricanes (-135) vs. Montreal Canadiens (+114) | 5.5 (-130/+110)
After closing at or above -200 on the moneyline in the opening games of the series, the Hurricanes have shrunk to -135 favorites for this road affair. The Canadiens are +114 tonight, and they've gone 4-0-1 against the Canes in 2025-26. The total is sitting at 5.5 goals, juiced heavily to the over. The average matchup between the clubs this season has produced 7.2 combined goals.
One sports betting strategy that I like to implement in the playoffs is to back road favorites at smaller prices. As I mentioned above, we have a 70-cent shift in moneyline price from the opening games of the series, so this is a great opportunity to back an elite team in the Hurricanes at a cheap price.
What sticks out to me about Montreal in the playoffs is that they've been outplayed during 5-on-5 play. At even strength, the Canadiens are the 13th-best playoff team in terms of xGoals% (46.54 percent). In the same category, the Hurricanes are second (55.71 percent). Factor in that Carolina's penalty kill is at 95.45 percent this postseason, and I don't see a route for Montreal to find a lot of offensive success in either even-strength or power-play scenarios.
Additionally, Frederik Andersen remains in elite form in between the pipes for the Hurricanes. The 36-year-old got lit up for five goals in Game 1, but he still brings in 1.55 GAA and .927 SV% this postseason.
I don't think we should put too much stock into the Game 1 effort from the Canes. It was their first game in 12 days, and we all saw the clear signs of rust in the 6-2 shellacking. Carolina is the more well-rounded and structured defensive team. I'm going to take advantage of this relatively cheap moneyline price and back them on the road Monday.
Bet: Carolina Hurricanes Moneyline (-135)
