New York Rangers vs Montreal Canadiens Prediction, 10/18/2025 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: New York Rangers vs Montreal Canadiens

Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025

Location: Bell Centre in Montreal, QC

TV: TSN2

Odds/Point Spread: Rangers (+120) Canadiens (-144)

The Montreal Canadiens (4-1-0) will try to beat the New York Rangers (2-3-1) at Bell Centre on Saturday. The line on this contest has the Rangers at +120 while the Canadiens are opening at -144. The total has been set at 6.

The New York Rangers will look to clean up some issues after taking a 2-1 defeat against the Maple Leafs in their previous game. New York earned 4 penalty mins for this matchup. Additionally, they had 3 chances with extra men on the ice but didn't convert them into a score. The Rangers had a below average offensive performance in the loss. While out there on the ice, they converted 1 of the 29 shots they put on goal.

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In relation to their scoring, the New York Rangers have accounted for 11 goals (23rd in pro hockey) so far this year and have allowed 9. For the current campaign, they have scored 5 points and their points percentage is sitting at .417. New York is sitting with 17 power play chances and they have scored 2 goals out of those tries, giving them a percentage of 11.76%. While playing at even strength, the Rangers have conceded 8 goals while having 9 of their own. New York has attempted 182 shots and holds a shot percentage of 6.0%. The Rangers so far have had 154 shots tried against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .942. New York Rangers opponents have 12 power play opportunities (26th in the league) and have notched 1 goal in those chances.

The man in goal for this game is Igor Shesterkin. The opposition has been able to score 675 goals versus Shesterkin in his career and his goals against average is 2.46. Shesterkin has been involved in 279 matchups during his professional hockey career. His save percentage is at .918 for his 14,534 mins in the crease. He has compiled an overall record of 164-90-23 and got the start in 274 games. For his professional hockey career, Shesterkin has accumulated 173 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is .631. Shesterkin has seen 8,239 shots taken against him and he has 7,564 saves.

Their last time out, Montreal faced the Predators in a game where the Canadiens took home the win by a score of 3-2. They had 3 power play opportunities in this game but weren't able to notch a goal. The Canadiens recorded 3 goals of the 30 shots on goal they pursued.

The Canadiens have 15 goals at even strength and 3 goals (9th in pro hockey) while having a power play advantage. Montreal has tried 128 shots (14th in the NHL) and has a shot percentage of 14.06%, while allowing the opposition 121 shots. For the season, the Montreal Canadiens have a total of 18 goals, 8 points, and a points percentage of .800. They have permitted 14 goals to be scored by of a combination of 10 goals at even strength and 4 goals while they had less men on the ice. They have recorded 20 power play chances and they have a power play rate of 15.00%. They have earned a penalty kill percentage of 75.00% on their opponents 16 power play chances, and their save percentage sits at 88.4%.

Across the rink you are going to see Sam Montembeault in goal. Teams are averaging 3.28 goals per contest and he has given up 626 goals in total. Montembeault's quality start rate is 52.9% and he has qualified for 101 quality starting assignments in his professional career. He has started in 191 games and has played for a total of 10,926 minutes. Montembeault is the owner of a career record of 82-85-28 and has played in 209 games. He has a tally of 5,536 stops out of the 6,162 shots taken against him, which gives him a percentage of .898.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh's Pick: Take New York (+120)

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