The Vancouver Canucks will begin a five-game road trip with a matchup versus the Montreal Canadiens on Amazon Prime Monday Night Hockey.

Vancouver will potentially receive a huge boost for this matchup, as captain Quinn Hughes is considered a game-time decision. During Hughes’ absence, the Canucks have played to a record of 1-2-1 in four matchups against non-playoff teams and are just 3-4-3 over their last 10 games.

The Bell Centre always provides a spectacular atmosphere, and that may be especially true tonight as the Canadiens return home from a 4-2-0 road trip. The trip featured matchups against the last four Stanley Cup champions which has elevated them loosely into the playoff mix.

I’ll detail the relevant game notes, as well as outline my favourite betting angle below.

With just four wins in their last 13 games, the Canucks are right in the thick of the Wild Card race, which is far from where they expected to be entering the season. Given all of the team’s significant injuries, it’s far from the worst spot to be in. However, the team will need to find better form soon, or it’s going to mean a highly disappointing playoff absence.

As expected, the Canucks have not looked overly strong with Hughes absent from the lineup. In four games without Hughes, the Canucks hold a minus-six goal differential and an expected goal share of 42.88%. They have generated just 2.37 xGF/60 and 23.25 shots per 60 in those matchups.

Elias Pettersson’s recent absence has also hurt a Canucks side which has looked stagnant offensively for a relatively large sample of play. Pettersson has not been activated off the IR, and will remain out of the lineup in this matchup.

Hughes and Pettersson’s nearing returns will help the Canucks significantly at both ends of the ice, but even prior to their injuries, Vancouver had fallen into a significant rut offensively. Over the last month of play, the Canucks have generated just 2.64 goals per game and rank last in the NHL in generating just 22.35 shots per 60.

It’s clear that the M.O. from head coach Rick Tocchet’s side has been to look to avoid making critical mistakes in the key areas of the ice and look to win coin-flip type matchups with strong special teams play.

Canucks fans received more bad news Monday as the team placed Dakota Joshua on the IR with a leg injury which has been deemed week-to-week. Jonathan Lekkerimäki is expected to make his sixth appearance of the season in this matchup as a result.

After a slow start to the season, which featured some pretty horrid defensive play early on, the Canadiens have trended into far better form of late and are on a 10-6-0 run since December 1st.

Star goaltender Samuel Montembeault’s selection to Team Canada’s 4 Nations Face-off roster came as somewhat of a surprise to some, as his surface-level stats over the last two years are not overly impressive relative to other options at Canada’s disposal. However, Montembeault’s underlying numbers throughout the last two years have been excellent, and his overall level was likely underrated largely due to the Canadiens’ poor defensive play.

Since December 3rd, Montembeault holds a .904 save percentage and 2.66 GAA and owns a record of 8-5-0. He holds a +9.2 GSAx rating over the last two seasons and will likely make his 32nd appearance of the year in this matchup.

The Canadiens have been playing a much better brand of hockey defensively of late, as over the last 10 games, they have allowed 2.84 xGA/60 and just 2.30 goals against per game where it counts. They have shut down some high-powered offences in that span, too. They shutout the Florida Panthers, allowed just two goals against versus the Tampa Bay Lightning the next night,  allowed only two goals against in Vegas, and allowed only one goal against in their most recent win over the Avalanche.

While this could be somewhat of a high-water mark for the Canadiens, it does seem possible that they will continue to be a better team than we saw earlier on in the season. They are currently playing at close to full health after playing without a number of NHL regulars earlier in the year.

Swapping defender Justin Barron for Alexander Carrier has also paid dividends, as Carrier has been effective in the top four thus far for the Canadiens.

Patrik Laine missed Saturday’s game versus Montreal with illness, and his status for this matchup is unclear.

Whether or not Hughes does make his return to the lineup, this looks like a good spot to target a lower-scoring matchup with a bet on the game to go under six goals at -130 or better.

The Canadiens’ defensive play has been significantly improved of late, and they will have a good chance to author another strong defensive showing versus a Canucks side which has struggled mightily offensively for a large sample.

While the Canucks have generated a far below-average amount of chances for recently, they have been closer to a middle-of-the-pack team in terms of chances allowed. I’m expecting a high level of urgency from Canucks in this matchup, and while I’m not convinced that will mean a better offensive night, I do think it will mean strong attention to detail defensively.