The Florida Panthers and Montreal Canadiens are set to collide on Thursday at Bell Centre in Montreal. Both clubs enter this showdown in playoff contention in the Atlantic Division. Florida is a slight favorite on the road, as they look to bust out of a recent slump, while the Canadiens try to get a second win in as many nights. Before this contest begins in Canada, continue reading for my Panthers vs Canadiens prediction.
Our Panthers vs Canadiens Pick ATS PRO
| Pick: | |
| Confidence: | 3/5 |
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Florida Panthers vs Montreal Canadiens
- Date & Time: Thursday, January 8, 2026, 7:00 PM
- Venue: Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec
- Broadcast: ESPN+
Key Storylines
Recent form
The Canadiens arrive playing great hockey, having posted a strong 4-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday, paced by Alexandre Texier’s three-point effort and solid goaltending from Jacob Fowler. Montreal’s run has seen them collect wins in four of their last five games. Florida has lost three of its last four games, with their lone win over that stretch coming against a Colorado Avalanche team that has been the best in the NHL by far. The Panthers will try to use their rest advantage to get a win in this contest on the road.
Goaltending
The goaltending matchup in this game could give the edge to the Panthers. Montreal is likely to go with Sam Montembeault in net, who has a 3.48 GAA this season and is struggling to limit scoring from his opponents. Florida is expected to start Sergei Bobrovsky, who checks in with a superior GAA of 2.85. Bobrovsky has been far from perfect this year, but should give the Panthers the upper hand in the goaltending matchup.
Key skaters
Florida’s Brad Marchand and Sam Reinhart lead the Panthers offensively, both contributing over 40 points this season. Marchand’s status is worth watching, as he exited the Maple Leafs game early due to a minor injury and is listed as day-to-day. Montreal’s attack is led by Cole Caufield’s finishing touch, and strong contributions from Lane Hutson and Nick Suzuki. The Canadiens’ offensive depth gives them a chance to trouble Florida’s defense, even on the second leg of a back-to-back.
Best Player Props
| Player | Prop |
|---|---|
| Brad Marchand (FLA) | |
| Sam Reinhart (FLA) |
Betting Trends & H2H
- The Habs defeated the Panthers 3-2 in Florida in their first meeting of the 2025-26 season.
- The Canadiens are 24-19 on pucklines going into this matchup.
- Florida is 14-28 in the puckline market so far this season.
Panthers vs Canadiens Model Projection ATS PRO
Final Thoughts ATS PRO
