Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Prediction, NHL Odds
The Canadiens have been dominant at both ends of the ice during the current 5-0-0 run that leaves them just four points back of division leaders Tampa Bay and Buffalo, capped by wins in Nashville and Carolina to kick off their current five-game road trip. The Lightning are coming off a 3-2 victory over the Predators to improve to 3-0-1 during their current seven-game home stand and to 6-0-2 in their past eight overall.
The Habs’ late-season surge has not given them a lift on Tuesday’s NHL odds, where they trail as +140 underdogs. The Lightning lead the way as -170 home favourites and the total is pegged at 6.5.
Canadiens vs. Lightning NHL Betting Odds
The Lightning have dominated the Canadiens in recent years, claiming victory in each of their past three meetings, and in 21 of 26 regular season dates since January 2018, including wins in each of their first two matchups during the during current campaign. The Bolts have also topped Montreal in 11 of 13 clashes on home ice, and have rocked the Habs with 16 total goals while winning their past three, capped by a 5-4 home victory on December 28. However, the Canadiens have played stingy hockey during their current five-game surge, allowing just eight total goals, and have surrendered more than three goals just twice over their past 12 outings. The Habs have also steadily produced on the road, averaging 3.83 goals per game and have claimed victory by multi-goal margins in each of their past three away contests. The Lightning have also scored with regularity, averaging 4.50 goals per game during their current 6-0-2 run, but have also tended to give up big totals at home, allowing 3.25 goals per game over their past eight appearances, but have seen the OVER go just 4-3-1 over that stretch.
Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens mustered just 18 goals in Carolina on Sunday afternoon, but with goaltender Jakub Dobes turning in yet another sparkling performance, that proved to be more than enough for the club to produce a 3-1 victory. Dobes has seized the starting job between the pipes during a sensational 6-2-0 run, during which he has surrendered just 15 total goals while compiling a .938 save percentage, and was rewarded with First Star of the Week honours while stopping 100 of 104 total shots in three wins last week. However, Dobes now faces the challenge of atoning for a dreadful performance when the Lightning visited Montreal on December 9, when the 24-year-old got the hook after allowing three goals on just 14 shots in the opening frame of a 6-1 loss.
Cole Caufield continued his pursuit of a 50-goal campaign with his sixth goal in five games on Sunday, and has now scored 11 times in March to bring his season total to 46. Nick Suzuki has also maintained the torrid pace he has set since returning from the Olympics. The Habs captain got in on all three goals with two markers and an assist on Sunday, and has now tallied eight goals and 18 points in 16 gams since the break including multi-point efforts in four of seven road games.
Tampa Bay Lightning
While the Canadiens’ top stars are producing, the Lightning could be without their top two veterans on Tuesday night. Victor Hedman remains away from the team on leave for personal reasons while top scorer Nikita Kucherov’s status remains uncertain as he battles an illness. Jake Guentzel has picked up the slack in the absence of the veteran stars, potting four goals and adding four helpers during a four-game points streak and has recorded 17 points on the month. Brandon Hagel has also played a big role in the Bolts’ late-season success. Hagel has scored four times and accumulated six points during a four-game points streak that has halted a five-game points drought on home ice.
