The Winnipeg Jets (13-12-0, 26 points) limp into Montreal on a three-game skid, desperate to steady their ship amid a rash of injuries and goaltending woes that’s derailed what was once a Central Division contender. Opposing them are the Montreal Canadiens (13-9-3, 29 points), who sit third in the Atlantic but have cooled with back-to-back losses, including a disheartening 5-2 home defeat to Ottawa on Tuesday. This interconference battle at the iconic Bell Centre promises fireworks, with Montreal’s high-flying offense (league-third 3.36 GF/GP) testing Winnipeg’s depleted blue line and backup netminder. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET at the Bell Centre in Montréal, Quebec—a 21,105-seat shrine where the Habs boast a 7-3-2 home mark but have surrendered 4.2 goals per game in November. Catch the action on ESPN+ for streaming, Sportsnet and RDS for Canadian coverage, or NHL Network for highlights.
Both clubs are mired in inconsistency: Winnipeg is 3-7-0 in their last 10, outscored 36-29, while Montreal rides a 3-6-1 stretch with a brutal -17 goal differential. The Jets’ power play (22.1%, 14th) faces a Habs penalty kill that’s leaky (77.1%, 28th), setting up a potential track meet. With Jets starter Connor Hellebuyck sidelined until January, expect Eric Comrie (3.13 GAA) to shoulder a heavy load against Montreal’s sniper Cole Caufield. Here’s the full breakdown.
Team Records and Standings Snapshot
| Team | Record (W-L-OTL) | Points | GF/GP | GA/GP | Home/Away Split | Power Play % | Penalty Kill % |
| Winnipeg Jets | 13-12-0 | 26 | 3.04 | 3.00 | 6-6-0 Home / 7-6-0 Away | 22.1 (14th) | 83.9 (12th) |
| Montreal Canadiens | 13-9-3 | 29 | 3.36 | 3.60 | 7-3-2 Home / 6-6-1 Away | 25.4 (8th) | 77.1 (28th) |
Winnipeg clings to ninth in the Central, four points out of a wild card, while Montreal holds third in the Atlantic, three points clear of Boston but vulnerable with defensive injuries piling up. The Habs’ +6 goal differential masks a porous back end (31st in GA/GP), but their home-ice edge (2.89 GA/GP at Bell Centre) could exploit the Jets’ road fatigue (3-4-0 away since November).
Recent Team Forms
Winnipeg’s slide has been ugly, with four losses in five capped by a 5-1 drubbing in Buffalo on Monday—exposing their depth issues without Hellebuyck. Montreal snapped a three-game win streak with losses to Colorado and Ottawa but remains potent offensively (18 goals in last five). Jets are 1-4 in last five roadies; Habs 3-2 at home in November.
Winnipeg Jets Last 5 Games:
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Notes |
| Dec 1 | @ BUF | L 1-5 | Comrie roughed up (31 SA, 5 GA); Morrissey sole bright spot with goal. |
| Nov 29 | @ NSH | W 5-2 | Scheifele 2G-1A; power play clicks 2-for-4 in bounce-back. |
| Nov 28 | @ CAR | L 1-5 | Defensive collapse; Comrie pulled after two goals in first period. |
| Nov 26 | @ WSH | L 3-4 | Late rally falls short; Connor nets two but Jets outshot 35-21. |
| Nov 23 | vs MIN | L 0-3 | Shutout ends three-game point streak; 0-for-4 on PP. |
Montreal Canadiens Last 5 Games:
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Notes |
| Dec 2 | vs OTT | L 2-5 | Montembeault yanked early; Suzuki, Caufield combine for both goals. |
| Nov 29 | @ COL | L 2-7 | Defensive meltdown (36 SA); Dobes lit up for career-worst seven GA. |
| Nov 28 | @ VGK | W 4-1 | Caufield hat trick; Habs dominate shots 31-19 in road win. |
| Nov 26 | @ UTA | W 4-3 | Roy game-winner; PP goes 2-for-3 despite 34 SA faced. |
| Nov 22 | vs TOR | W 5-2 | Offensive explosion; Suzuki 1G-2A, Slafkovsky pots two. |
Trend: Jets 2-3 O/U last five (avg. 5.8 goals); Habs 4-1 over, cashing in 18 of 25 games this season.
Injury Report
Injuries have ravaged both squads, but Winnipeg’s absence of Vezina frontrunner Hellebuyck (6.6 GSA pre-injury) has cratered their net (3.00 GA/GP without him). Montreal’s blue-line woes force youth like Lane Hutson into big minutes.
Winnipeg Jets Injuries:
| Player | Position | Status | Injury Details | Est. Return |
| Neal Pionk | D | Day-to-Day | Lower body | Dec 3 |
| Connor Hellebuyck | G | Out (IR) | Knee | Jan 3, 2026 |
| Haydn Fleury | D | Out (IR) | Concussion | Dec 6 |
Impact: Pionk’s potential return bolsters the top pair with Morrissey, but Fleury’s absence thins depth—Jets allowing 32 SA/G last five. Comrie starts (8-6-0, .913 SV%).
Montreal Canadiens Injuries:
| Player | Position | Status | Injury Details | Est. Return |
| Kirby Dach | C | Out (IR) | Foot | Dec 28 |
| Kaiden Guhle | D | Out | Lower body (surgery) | Jan 2026 |
| Jayden Struble | D | Day-to-Day | Upper body | Dec 3? |
| Alexander Newhook | C | Out (IR) | Ankle | Mar 17 |
| Patrik Laine | RW | Out (IR) | Abdomen | Feb 28 |
Impact: Dach’s line (7 points in 15 GP) stalls secondary scoring; Guhle’s 8-10 week absence exposes Hutson-Savard pairing (team-worst -5 GF/60). Dobes/Montembeault tandem shaky (.870/.861 SV%).
Key Player Matchups
Winnipeg’s transition game clashes with Montreal’s cycle, but injuries tilt toward a wide-open affair. Focus on these battles for game flow.
Kyle Connor (WPG, LW) vs. Nick Suzuki (MTL, C): Connor (13G-12A, 84 SOG) is Winnipeg’s engine, scoring in four straight vs. Atlantic foes, but faces Suzuki (8G-22A, 52% FO), who’s +8 at home and owns Jets (4 points in last three meetings). Edge: Suzuki—his two-way play (1.2 PTS/G) disrupts Connor’s rush.
Mark Scheifele (WPG, C) vs. Cole Caufield (MTL, RW): Scheifele (13G-15A) quarterbacks the top line with 13 PPP, but Caufield (14G, 18.2% S%) is red-hot (hat trick vs. VGK), thriving on Suzuki’s setups. Edge: Caufield—his wrist shot exploits Jets’ depleted D (23 GA last six).
Josh Morrissey (WPG, D) vs. Juraj Slafkovsky (MTL, LW): Morrissey (3G-19A) logs 24:15/gm but minus-4 last five; Slafkovsky (9G-10A, 50 SOG) bullies nets with physicality (12 hits/gm). Edge: Slafkovsky—rookie surge (50% Corsi) wears down tired Jets blueliners.
Goalie Duel: Eric Comrie (WPG) vs. Sam Montembeault (MTL): Comrie (8-6-0, .913 SV%, 16 GA last five) vulnerable to volume (29.2 SA/G allowed); Montembeault (5-6-1, .888 SV%) pulled twice recently but 3-1-0 in last four home starts. Edge: Montembeault—if steady; Comrie’s .893 SV% vs. East invites regression.
Watch For: Jets’ PK (83.9%) vs. Habs’ PP (25.4%, 8th); Montreal’s forecheck forcing turnovers (15/gm last five).
Series History
Montreal holds a narrow all-time edge (51-34-2 in 87 regular-season meetings), but Winnipeg has flipped the script recently, winning four of the last six (including a 4-1 rout on Jan. 28, 2025). At Bell Centre, Habs lead 28-14-2 overall, but Jets are 3-2 there since 2020. Average goals: 6.2 per game—over in seven straight.
| Last 6 Meetings | Date | Result | Venue |
| Jan 28, 2025 | WPG 4-1 MTL | Bell Centre | Jets win |
| Dec 14, 2024 | WPG 4-2 MTL | Canada Life Place | Jets win |
| Dec 18, 2023 | WPG 2-3 MTL | Canada Life Place | Habs win |
| Oct 28, 2023 | WPG 3-4 MTL | Bell Centre | Habs win |
| Jan 17, 2023 | WPG 1-4 MTL | Bell Centre | Habs win |
| Nov 3, 2022 | WPG 3-2 MTL (OT) | Canada Life Place | Jets win |
Trend: Last five games push over 6 (avg. 6.4 goals); Jets 4-1 SU vs. Habs since 2023.
Betting Trends
It’s a virtual pick’em with Montreal as a slim -110 home favorite, reflecting their 7-3-2 Bell Centre record vs. Winnipeg’s B2B spot (Jets 4-6-0 in back-to-backs). Total at 6.5 (O +100) screams goals, hitting in 18 of 25 Habs games and 12 of 17 Jets road tilts. Puck line: Jets +1.5 (-275) cashes 75% away; Habs -1.5 (+220) for upset juice.
Key Trends:
Jets 7-3 SU as road dogs; 5-2 when scoring 3+ away.
Habs 9-5 SU as ML faves but 2-3 last five home vs. West.
Over 18-5-2 in Montreal games; Jets 7-3 O/U last 10 overall.
Game Odds
Winnipeg Jets – 120
Montreal Canadiens 6.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, December 2, 2025
