Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens Prediction, NHL Odds
The Lightning rebounded from their stunning 4-3 overtime loss in Game 1 to eke out a 3-2 overtime win in Game 2 on Tuesday night, knotting this best-of-7 series at one game apiece. Despite Tuesday’s defeat, the Canadiens now enjoy home-ice advantage in the series, but have struggled against Tampa Bay on home ice, losing in nine of 13 overall meetings since 2019.
Returning to the comfort of home ice has provided the Canadiens with only a limited boost on Friday’s Game 3 odds, where they lag as +100 underdogs. The Lightning lead the way as slim -120 favourites, and the total is pegged at 6. The Lightning also maintain a big edge on the NHL series prices, where they remain perched as -189 chalk while the Canadiens trail as +155 underdogs.
Lightning vs. Canadiens NHL Betting Odds
Each of the first two games of this series need overtime to be settled, extending a trend that has seen four if the past five overall meetings between these clubs get settled by just a single goal. Low scoring has also been commonplace in recent dates, with the UNDER paying out in three of their past four clashes. Just three of their past seven matchups at Bell Centre have been low-scoring, one-goal games. However, they have also been the only contests over that stretch in which Montreal has emerged victorious. Indeed, the Habs are winless in their past seven meetings with the Bolts in which the OVER paid out.
Heading into Game 3, the Lightning continue to trail only Carolina as +325 bet to win the East, are perched among the favourites as a +700 bet on the Stanley Cup odds. The Canadiens remain stalled in the middle of the pack on the Eastern Conference futures at +900, and sit well off the pace as a +2200 wager to raise the Cup for the first time since 1993.
Tampa Bay Lightning
For the second time in as many games, Brandon Hagel provided the spark for the Lightning, both on the scoresheet and as a super pest. Hagel tallied his third goal and first assist if the series in Tuesday’s win and continued to get in the faces of the Habs top guns, most notably with a spirited scrap with Montreal’s Game 1 hero, Juraj Slafkovsky, but has failed to pick up a point in two of three visits to Montreal. Jake Guentzel followed up on his three-assist performance in Game 1 with a helper in Game 2, and has recorded a goal and five assists during a four-game points streak. The Lightning also received good news this week. Team captain Victor Hedman is reportedly traveling with the club, indicating his return from an array of injuries, as well as personal issues, may come sooner than expected.
Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens enjoyed a steady start in Game 2 of the series, outshooting the Lightning by a 12-6 margin in the opening frame and seizing the lead late in the second period on Josh Anderson’s second goal of the postseason. But the club steadily faded as the game progressed. The Habs mustered just two total shots during the final 23 minutes of the contest including no shots in overtime of a clash marked by plenty of rough stuff and Tampa Bay intimidation tactics, which they must find a way to counter if they are going to survive what is shaping up to be a marathon series. While Juraj Slafkovsky was held off the scoresheet after scoring three power play goals in Game 1, Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield each tallied assists. Suzuki has now picked up two goals and seven helpers over his past eight outings including four points during a three-game home points streak. Caufield has failed to score in four games since potting his 51st marker of the season on April 11, but has bulged the twine in each of his past two home appearances.
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