Two teams that split their season series 2-2 last year, the Montreal Canadiens and the Tampa Bay Lightning take the ice at Amalie Arena for an Atlantic Division showdown. The game will get started at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 28 and it’ll be showcased live on Reseau Des Sports.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Odds
With a moneyline of -230, Tampa Bay heads into the matchup as the substantial favorite. The line for Montreal sits at +190.
Netting moneyline bettors 13.8 units, the Lightning are 26-9 straight up (SU) overall thus far. That win percentage, ranked first in the league so far in the early season, is a solid improvement compared to how the team performed during the 2016-17 season (42-40). Among the team’s 35 games this season, 21 have gone over the total, while 14 have gone under and none have pushed. This year, the team is 15-3 SU at home.
Tampa Bay enters the matchup with the second-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s scored on 26.4 percent of their extra-man advantages this year. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated 22nd overall, and it’s successfully killed off 79.3 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, Tampa Bay has been penalized 4.1 times per game overall this season, and 6.2 per game over its last five outings. The team’s had to kill penalties for a whopping 14.2 minutes per game over its last five outings, overall.
Averaging 29.5 saves per game with a .932 save percentage, Andrei Vasilevskiy (23-6-1) has been the best goalkeeper for the Lightning this season. If they decide to give him a breather, however, Tampa Bay may turn to Peter Budaj (3-3-3 record, .878 save percentage, 3.67 goals against average).
The Bolts will continue seeking leadership from Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos. Kucherov (51 points) has tallied 24 goals and 27 assists and has recorded two or more points in 18 different games this year. Stamkos has 13 goals and 32 assists to his credit and has recorded a point in 24 contests.
On the other bench, Montreal is 16-21 straight up (SU) and has lost 7.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 37 regular season matches, 18 of its games have gone under the total, while 16 have gone over and just two have pushed. Montreal’s 7-11 SU as the visiting team this season.
Montreal has converted on 18.8 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 29th overall and it’s successfully killed off 76.9 percent of all penalties.
Montreal’s players have been whistled for penalties 3.9 times per game this season, and 3.0 per game over their last five road outings. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 7.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Carey Price (.906 save percentage and 3.00 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Montreal. Price is averaging 27.2 saves per game and owns an 11-13-2 record.
For the visiting Canadiens, the offense will run through Phillip Danault (seven goals, 14 assists) and Alex Galchenyuk (nine goals, 12 assists).
Montreal Canadiens at Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Lightning, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
The total has gone over in three of Tampa Bay’s last five games.
Penalties and power plays may be critical in tonight’s game. The Canadiens are 5-5 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 11-14 when they serve fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total. The Lightning are 15-4 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 13-4 when total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
Tampa Bay is 2-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Montreal is 1-1 in shootouts.
Tampa Bay skaters have averaged 9.2 takeaways per game over its last five home games, an improvement over its season average of 7.6 takeaways per game (ranked 15th overall).
Montreal is ranked 22nd overall with 6.4 takeaways per game. That figure has trended higher, as it’s averaged 8.4 takeaways over its last 10 games and 9.4 takeaways over its last five.
