Montreal Canadiens vs. Ottawa Senators Prediction: Betting on the Habs’ Atlantic Division Surge
Updated July 9, 2026
Montreal vs Ottawa Prediction. The Montreal Canadiens head into the Canadian Tire Centre as one of the hottest teams in the Atlantic Division, currently sitting in 3rd place (80 pts) after a crucial 3-1 win over Toronto last night. Led by captain Nick Suzuki (74 pts) and sniper Cole Caufield (37 goals), the Habs are finding their stride at the perfect time. The emergence of rookies Ivan Demidov (49 pts) and Oliver Kapanen, who netted his 20th goal of the season in last night's victory, has provided Montreal with elite secondary scoring. Meanwhile, the Ottawa Senators (73 pts) are fighting for their playoff lives, trailing the final Wild Card spot by just three points. While Tim Stützle continues his star turn with 30 goals, the Sens are reeling from the loss of their #1 defenseman, Jake Sanderson. Follow our NHL page for more betting predictions on NHL.
Pick: Montreal Canadiens Moneyline (+110) ATS PRO Confidence: ★★★☆☆
Montreal’s power play has been lethal since the Olympic break, currently operating at a 25.1% clip. With Lane Hutson facilitating from the point and Caufield finding "soft ice," the Canadiens are a nightmare to defend in space. Their leap to 3rd in the Atlantic signals a team peaking as the post-season approaches. Ottawa’s success rests on their high-volume transition game, now led by Brady Tkachuk and the recently acquired Dylan Cozens, who has 5 goals in his last five games. However, the absence of Jake Sanderson leaves a massive void in their top defensive pair and power-play distribution. While the Senators goalie issues seems to be looking better with Linus Ullmark returning and James Reimer stepping in, this might be a tough one for the Senators. The last three matchups between the two have been tight, with two of them needing overtime to decide the winner.
This game features two of the top candidates for the Calder Trophy. Ivan Demidov leads all rookies with 49 points, but his linemate Oliver Kapanen has the edge in goals (20). How Ottawa's depleted blue line handles this high-speed rookie duo will be the game's deciding factor.
Montreal has the momentum and the healthier roster, but Ottawa’s no easy win. However, with Sanderson out and Montreal’s rookies playing with house money, the value sits with the Canadiens on the moneyline. Expect a high-scoring affair that tests Ottawa's defensive depth, as the the games between the two this season has ended in 7-goals or more (5-6, 2-5, 4-3). Keep an eye on Cole Caufield's illness, he's expected to play but is he 100%? For the Canadiens this is a back-to-back game following their win against Toronto, meanwhile Ottawa played their last game on Monday night, which could give them a bit more edge in terms of rest. A tough game to call, but the value is definitely on Montreal. ATS PROAffiliate DisclosureATS.io uses affiliate links. If you sign up through a link on this page, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Rankings are based on hands-on testing and published criteria, and affiliate relationships do not determine placement.
