Montreal vs Pittsburgh Prediction 31 October 2026
π Montreal Canadiens return home riding high after a flawless road trip, collecting every available point. Martin St. Louisβs side keep winning despite missing several key players, and they've climbed to second place in the Atlantic Division. The mood is quite different in the Pittsburgh Penguins camp. Pittsburgh have just let a win slip away against Utah, conceding a dramatic equalizer right at the buzzer. Still, the last head-to-head between these two sides was a high-scoring affair, so fans will be eager to see if the fireworks continue.
10 goals plus one more in overtime
π Earlier this season, these teams treated fans to a high-scoring shootout. The Pittsburgh Penguins hosted the Montreal Canadiens and came away with a 6-5 overtime win. Evgeni Malkin racked up three points, while Tommy Novak found the back of the net twice. For the Canadiens, Cole Caufield answered with a brace, and Nick Suzuki, Chris Kreider, and Ivan Demidov each added a goal. Now, Montreal will look to get their revenge on home ice.
Head-to-head statistics Montreal - Pittsburgh
They keep winning even without their key players.
The Montreal Canadiens have won eight out of their last thirteen games and currently sit second in the Atlantic Division with 18 points. Despite a less-than-ideal injury situation-Nick Suzuki and Ivan Demidov are both sidelined-the team have managed to keep their offense firing. Cole Caufield has already tallied eight goals and four assists, while the goaltending has also stepped up: Jacob Fowler recently posted a shutout against St. Louis (2-0), earning NHL Star of the Week honors.
Montrealβs most recent opponent was Dallas. The Canadiens struck three times in the opening period and went on to secure a 5-2 victory. Both Caufield and Alex Newhook notched a brace, while Phillip Danault scored into an empty net. Jakub Dobes turned aside 17 of 19 shots. Lane Hutson also made headlines-his assist marked his 136th in the NHL, setting a club record for assists by a player under 23. With that win, Montreal capped off a perfect four-game road trip.
Match Results: Montreal Canadiens
Seconds That Slipped Away
Pittsburgh Penguins are still struggling to climb out of the lower half of the Metropolitan Division standings. After thirteen games, the Penguins have collected 12 points and sit in sixth place. Wins and losses continue to alternate, although thereβs no shortage of offensive firepower. Evgeni Malkin and Nicholas Robertson have each found the net six times, while defenseman Erik Karlsson has tallied 12 points. However, defensive reliability remains an issue; even strong performances from Arturs Silovs havenβt always been enough to bail the team out.
The matchup against Utah was especially painful. Pittsburgh trailed 0-2 after the opening period but gradually clawed their way back. Karlsson cut the deficit, Rickard Rakell equalized with a shorthanded goal, and Ben Kindel put the hosts ahead with just 22 seconds left on the clock. It looked like victory was in the bag. But Logan Cooley completed his hat-trick with 0.9 seconds remaining in regulation, and in overtime, Mikhail Sergachev sealed the win for Utah (4-3). The Penguins walked away with just one point instead of two.
Match Results: Pittsburgh Penguins
First Period Prediction
In 12 of the last 13 head-to-head matchups in Montreal, the teams have combined for at least two goals in the opening period. Pittsburgh are conceding an average of 1.57 goals in first periods on the road this season, while Montreal are scoring 1.17 at home. The smart play here is over 1.5 goals in the first period at odds of 1.7.
Match Outcome Prediction
Montreal Canadiens are unbeaten in regulation across their last six games. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh Penguins have managed just one away win this season. However, it's worth noting that Montreal Canadiens have failed to secure a regulation win in six of their last seven home head-to-head clashes against Pittsburgh Penguins, making a draw a significant possibility here. Our pick: Montreal Canadiens to avoid defeat in regulation at odds of 1.41.
Safe Bet
Pittsburgh Penguins have scored fewer than 1.5 goals in the first period in 11 of their last 12 games. On the road, their average in this stretch stands at just 0.83 goals per first period, while Montreal Canadiens have conceded just 0.6 goals on average in the opening frame of recent home games. The smart play here is to back Pittsburgh Penguinsβ individual total under 1.5 goals in the first period.
*Odds are approximate and may vary across different bookmakers.
βοΈ Editorial Prediction
After the last meeting between the Montreal Canadiens and the Pittsburgh Penguins, it's hard to imagine either side suddenly opting for a defensive approach. That game saw ten goals scored in regulation, with the winner only decided in overtime. The Canadiens are especially dangerous right now, riding a four-game winning streak, putting five past Dallas, and seeing Cole Caufield shine offensively despite injuries to his teammates. Pittsburgh's results have been more modest, but their attack is far from struggling. The Penguins recently shut out Florida 4-0 and managed to come back from 0-2 down to score three against Utah. However, the closing stages of their last game again highlighted just how costly defensive lapses can be for them. My pick here is over 5.5 total goals.
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Betting Tips: Montreal Canadiens - Pittsburgh Penguins
in 6 of last 7 home games (NHL).
in 6 of last 7 home games against Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL).in 15 of last 16 home games (NHL).in last 10 games (NHL).in 7 of last 8 home games (NHL).in 13 of last 14 away games (NHL).
in 12 of last 14 home games against Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL).
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