NJD at MTL
New Jersey Devils at Montréal Canadiens. Preview from the model, the licensed feeds and last season's measures. Nothing here is a betting recommendation.
- Model now
- Expected score
- Market
- —
- Venue
- Centre Bell
What the model says now
Lineups not yet published: each club's usual lineup assumed. Starting goalie not confirmed: goaltending held at league average. This estimate moves until the ledger freezes it before puck drop.
Source: CapOrCup game model (derived from club ratings, rest and starters)
What the schedule did to each side
Nights off, back-to-backs, third games in four nights, road-trip position and travel since the last game, from the statistical schedule. Shown as facts; rest is in the price, travel is not.
second of a back-to-back · game 2 of a road trip · rest disadvantage
3 nights off · rest advantage
In goal
The league names no starter before puck drop. First on each club's depth chart, from the licensed feed, is the expected starter.
Jake Allen
Jacob Fowler
Expected lines
What each club intends per the feed's depth chart, with each forward's shooter rating (Elo, against the goalies faced last season). A listing is the club's statement, not a game sheet.
New Jersey Devils
L1 Anthony Mantha (top tenth of the league) · Jack Hughes (above the league middle) · Jesper Bratt (above the league middle)
L2 Timo Meier (bottom tenth of the league) · Nico Hischier (below the league middle) · Luke Evangelista (bottom tenth of the league)
L3 Arseny Gritsyuk (above the league middle) · Evan Rodrigues (below the league middle) · Dawson Mercer (bottom tenth of the league)
D1 Luke Hughes (below the league middle) · Brett Pesce (below the league middle)
D2 Jonas Siegenthaler (below the league middle) · Dougie Hamilton (above the league middle)
PP1 Jesper Bratt (above the league middle) · Nico Hischier (below the league middle) · Luke Evangelista (bottom tenth of the league) · Jack Hughes (above the league middle) · Luke Hughes (below the league middle)
Montréal Canadiens
L1 Cole Caufield (top tenth of the league) · Nick Suzuki (above the league middle) · Juraj Slafkovský (above the league middle)
L2 Chris Kreider (below the league middle) · Alex Newhook (top tenth of the league) · Josh Anderson (below the league middle)
L3 Zachary Bolduc (below the league middle) · Phillip Danault (bottom tenth of the league) · Alexandre Texier (above the league middle)
D1 Lane Hutson (above the league middle) · Noah Dobson (above the league middle)
D2 Mike Matheson (above the league middle) · Kaiden Guhle (below the league middle)
PP1 Chris Kreider (below the league middle) · Nick Suzuki (above the league middle) · Juraj Slafkovský (above the league middle) · Cole Caufield (top tenth of the league) · Lane Hutson (above the league middle)
Who the clubs list as out
Club-announced listings relayed by the licensed feed. No cause is inferred; Day To Day players are shown but not counted as out.
New Jersey Devils
Connor Brown (RW): Out (lower-body), listed since 2026-09-30, expected back 2026-10-20
Luke Evangelista (RW): Out (illness), listed since 2026-10-13, expected back 2026-10-20
Nick Bjugstad (C): Out (pectoral), listed since 2026-09-28, expected back 2027-01-19
Seamus Casey (D): Out (knee), listed since 2026-09-28, expected back 2026-11-21
Montréal Canadiens
Mike Matheson (D): Day To Day (lower-body), listed since 2026-10-13, expected back 2026-10-17
Bryce Pickford (D): Out (undisclosed), listed since 2026-09-29, expected back 2026-10-31
Florian Xhekaj (LW): Out (lower-body), listed since 2026-10-10, expected back 2026-10-31
Ivan Demidov (RW): Out (lower-body), listed since 2026-10-03, expected back 2026-10-31
Lucas Condotta (LW): Out (undisclosed), listed since 2026-09-30, expected back 2026-10-31
Samuel Montembeault (G): Out (lower-body), listed since 2026-10-07, expected back 2026-10-20
Who has the whistle
Named by the league, usually near puck drop. Each referee's record is from last season's play-by-play penalties; ranks are distance from league norms.