Florida Panthers vs Montreal Canadiens Prediction – 3/15/2025

The Florida Panthers are set to face off against the Montreal Canadiens tonight at 7:00 PM at the Bell Centre in Montreal. This Atlantic Division showdown features the division-leading Panthers, who have been on a hot streak, against a Canadiens team fighting to stay in the playoff hunt.

Florida Panthers vs. Montreal Canadiens Game Preview

The Panthers enter the game with a 41-22-3 record, leading the Atlantic Division with 85 points. They have won seven of their last eight games, including a recent 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. In that game, center Sam Bennett scored two power-play goals, and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky made 23 saves. Florida's defense has been solid, allowing two goals or fewer in nine of their last eleven games. Despite injuries to key players like Matthew Tkachuk (groin) and Brad Marchand (upper body), the Panthers have maintained their strong performance.

On the other hand, the Canadiens hold a 31-27-7 record, placing them fifth in the Atlantic Division with 69 points. They are coming off a 5-4 overtime loss to the Seattle Kraken, a game in which they squandered a two-goal lead in the third period. Forward Juraj Slafkovsky scored twice in that game, continuing his recent offensive surge. Montreal has lost three of their last four games and is currently one point out of the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Goaltender Sam Montembeault has been a bright spot, posting a 2.11 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage over his last six starts.

Betting Insights

According to recent betting lines, the Panthers are favored with a moneyline of -198, while the Canadiens are at +164. The over/under for the game is set at 5.5 goals. Notably, eight of the Panthers' last nine games have gone under the total goals line, indicating a trend towards lower-scoring contests. Additionally, the road team has covered the puck line in 10 of the Canadiens' last 11 games, suggesting potential value in betting on the Panthers to cover.

Florida Panthers vs. Montreal Canadiens Prediction

Considering the current form of both teams, the Panthers appear to have the upper hand. Their recent defensive prowess, combined with the Canadiens' struggles to maintain leads, points towards a Florida victory. While the Canadiens have the advantage of playing at home, their recent inconsistency and the Panthers' strong road performance (19-12-1) suggest that Florida is likely to come out on top. Therefore, the recommendation is to bet on the Panthers to win, potentially covering the -1.5 puck line, and to consider the under on the total goals, given both teams' recent trends.