Face-off: 1900 ET, 11/04/2022
Arena: Bell Centre
The Winnipeg Jets will be desperate to close in on the play-off qualification spots against an already-eliminated Montreal Canadiens.
The Jets sit seven points behind the Dallas Stars for the second wildcard spot in the Western Conference and have just nine games remaining in the regular season.
The Habs have only pride to play for and it could be another long evening with the Jets fancied to win by two goals at 7.25 in the first of our Montreal Canadiens vs Winnipeg Jets predictions.
Win up to $100 in cash with our Free to Play NHL predictions promotion!
Montreal Canadiens Odds
Montreal recalled goaltender Cayden Primeau from AHL Laval after starter Jake Allen suffered a lower-body injury in Saturday’s 3-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Primeau, who has played 12 games for the Habs this season, is expected to back up Sam Montembeault against the Jets and Montreal will also be without left-wing Jonathan Drouin, who is out for the season after undergoing wrist surgery.
It’s not all bad for the Canadiens, though, as defenceman Jeff Petry returned against the Maple Leafs for the first time since March 24.
Canadiens forward Josh Anderson was full of praise for Montembeault after he came in cold with Allen having made six straight starts.
He said: “We came out a little slow, a little sloppy and obviously they capitalised on the turnovers there on the second goal.
“I thought we played pretty good later on in the first period and then carried over to the game and we had some big kills there that kept us in the game and when Montembeault came in, he played phenomenal and gave us a chance to win.”
Montreal can carry momentum from the fightback against Toronto and score the first goal of the game in the opening period at 2.25 in NHL odds.
Winnipeg Jets Odds
Nikolaj Ehlers led the Jets to a vital 4-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Sunday with a three-point outing.
The Denmark international will need to reproduce that with every game now a must-win for Winnipeg if they hope to extend their year beyond the regular season.
Ehlers has recorded points in all but three games of the 19 he played since he returned from a knee injuring, adding 22 points during that period from 11 goals and 11 assists.
“Nikky is dialled in and when Nikky is playing his game, you notice him,” said Jets interim head coach Dave Lowry.
“He was able to get himself into a game. He created some offence and he used his feet to make plays, to beat guys and it allowed his skill to take over.”
Ehlers can again be a difference maker for the Jets as they win with over 5.5 goals at 2.45 in our NHL predictions.
Additional stats
Last result:
Toronto 3-2 MONTREAL
Ottawa 3-4 WINNIPEG
Season head-to-head: Winnipeg 8-4 Montreal
