Tuesday night in the NHL sees the Winnipeg Jets travel to Montreal to take on the Montreal Canadiens in an all-Canadian matchup. Welcome to NHL Predictions here at Last Word on Hockey, where we preview and predict the upcoming slate of NHL games around the league each day! In this article, we will preview and predict the matchup between the Jets and Canadiens. Be sure to check out all of our NHL Predictions throughout the 2024-25 season and follow along with your favourite teams.
NHL Predictions
Winnipeg Jets vs Montreal Canadiens
Head-to-Head: Jets 1-0 Canadiens
Time: 7:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: TSN2, RDS, TSN3; ESPN+
Winnipeg and Montreal will meet for the second and final time this season. The Jets took the first meeting between these two by a score of 4-2 back on December 14th. A pair of Jets powerplay goals were the difference in that game, with both Gabriel Vilardi and Kyle Connor each recording a goal and an assist in the contest. For Montreal, Lane Hutson scored his first career NHL goal in the loss. Connor Hellebuyck back-stopped the Jets, making 26 saves in the victory.
Winnipeg’s victory broke a three game losing streak head-to-head versus the Canadiens. The Jets’ last win in Montreal came on April 11th, 2022.
Winnipeg Earns Win for Comrie
Goaltender Eric Comrie finally tallied his fourth win of the season on Sunday versus the Calgary Flames. The backup netminder of the Jets hadn’t won a game since November 2. This was a 6-2 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets. During that span, Comrie had lost eight straight starts, with his team scoring more than two goals just once. With the win, he was able to improve his record to a pedestrian 4-7-1. However, he still holds a solid 2.79 GAA and .905 SV%. As backup goalies go, those numbers are more than passible. As well, he is one of only a few backups in the NHL with a positive GSAA (0.85). Overall, the play of Comrie has been exactly what the Jets have wanted.
Montreal Looking to End January on a High
With two games left on their schedule in the month of January, the Montreal Canadiens can end the month with one of the best records in the NHL. The Canadiens 7-3-2 record this month is a carbon copy of Winnipeg’s; both teams sit just four points back of the Edmonton Oilers in the January totals. Montreal has propelled themselves into the thick of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference.
The team has been led by captain Nick Suzuki (four goals, ten assists), winger Cole Caufield (six goals, six assists) and rookie defenseman Lane Hutson (one goal, twelve assists). Hutson has been more than the Habs could’ve asked for; he has tallied 39 points on the season and is in the conversation for the Calder Trophy. Two tough opponents (Winnipeg and Minnesota) will visit the Bell Centre to end January. However, with a few points, Montreal will have a month to remember.
Prediction
Ever since Montreal swept the Jets in the 2021 playoffs, this matchup has had a newborn intensity. Winnipeg is coming off of three consecutive impressive victories, while Montreal has dropped two in a row. This has the makings of an emotional matchup. One area that screams trouble for the Canadiens is the high danger zones at five-on-five play: Montreal is 24th in high danger chances for, and 29th in high danger chances against. The team doesn’t generate a lot of great looks and gives up a substantial amount at five-on-five. Winnipeg, being one of the best all-around teams in the NHL, will take full advantage of this and cause problems for the defense of Montreal.
Prediction: Jets win 5-3
Prop Bet of the Night
There are a few players we like to record 1+ points in this game. Sites have Hutson at -108 to record a point, and Cole Perfetti at +148 to record a point. Hutson is pointless in two straight games after going nine consecutive with a point. He is due for a breakout in this one. As for Perfetti, he has had a rough January. However, he broke out with his first career hat trick two games ago. Last time out against Montreal, he played a season high 20:04. This was the only time he has cracked 20+ minutes this season.
Main photo by: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
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The post NHL Predictions January 28th Winnipeg Jets vs Montreal Canadiens appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.