Predators vs. Canadiens Prediction & Picks - Oct. 8

Montreal Canadiens v Pittsburgh Penguins

Photo: Justin Berl / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images

The Montreal Canadiens (1-1-1) host the Nashville Predators (1-1-1) at Bell Centre on Thursday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+, with both teams back in action after a loss. The Canadiens are coming off a 6-4 defeat to the Carolina Hurricanes, while the Predators were beaten by the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4 in overtime in their most recent game.

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Ahead of watching this matchup, here's a look at which squad we predict will come out on top in Thursday's action on the ice.

Predators vs. Canadiens Predictions for Thursday

Our computer projection model for this matchup calls for a final result of Canadiens 4, Predators 3.

  • Moneyline Pick: Canadiens (-167)
  • Total Pick: Over 6.5 (computer predicts 7 goals on average)
  • Spread Pick: Predators (+1.5)

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Canadiens Splits and Trends

  • The Canadiens were 48-24-10 overall and 17-14-31 in overtime contests last season.
  • Montreal picked up 57 points (24-8-9) in the 41 games it played that were decided by one goal.
  • In the six games last season the Canadiens recorded just one goal, they finished 1-5-0 (two points).
  • Montreal finished 5-11-4 in the 20 games last season when it scored exactly two goals (registering 14 points).
  • The Canadiens were 51-9-9 when they scored more than two goals (to record 111 points).
  • In the 35 games when Montreal recorded a single power-play goal, it had a 21-11-3 record (45 points).
  • In the 38 games when it outshot its opponent, Montreal was 19-17-2 (40 points).
  • The Canadiens' opponent had more shots in 59 games last season. The Canadiens went 35-12-12 in those matchups (82 points).

Predators Splits and Trends

  • The Predators had a record of 38-34-10 last season and were 10-10-20 in overtime games.
  • Nashville picked up 38 points (15-8-8) in its 31 games decided by one goal.
  • Last season the Predators recorded just one goal in nine games, and they picked up two points (1-8-0).
  • When Nashville scored exactly two goals last season, they amassed 19 points (6-16-7 record).
  • The Predators picked up 65 points in their 41 games when they scored three or more goals.
  • Nashville scored a lone power-play goal in 35 games last season and registered 38 points.
  • When it outshot its opponent last season, Nashville posted a record of 15-14-4 (34 points).
  • The Predators were outshot by their opponents in 46 games last season, going 20-20-6 to register 46 points.

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Team Stats Comparison (2025-26)

Canadiens Rank Canadiens AVG Predators AVG Predators Rank
7th 3.4 Goals Scored 2.95 20th
16th 3.06 Goals Allowed 3.26 26th
22nd 26.3 Shots 27.8 19th
18th 27.8 Shots Allowed 29.5 26th
10th 23.14% Power Play % 23.11% 11th
19th 78.14% Penalty Kill % 81.71% 6th

Predators vs. Canadiens Game Time and TV Channel

  • When: Thursday, October 8, 2026 at 7 p.m. ET
  • TV Channel: ESPN+
  • Live Stream: Watch this game on ESPN+
  • Where: Bell Centre in Montréal, Quebec

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