Amalie Arena will play host to an enticing showdown as the Montreal Canadiens come into town to face the Tampa Bay Lightning. The match will get underway at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 28, and you can catch this divisional matchup live on Fox Sports Sun.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Odds
Montreal (+150) is playing the role of underdog to Tampa Bay (-170), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 7 goals. The odds for betting that total sit at -115 money on the over and -105 on the under.
Losing 9.4 units for moneyline gamblers, the Lightning are 18-17 straight up (SU) overall this year. That winning percentage, the third-best in the Atlantic Division in this young season, is a regression from the 62-20 record that the team posted during the 2018-19 season campaign. Of its 35 games this season, 21 have gone over the total, while 13 have gone under and just one has pushed. The team’s 10-9 SU at home this season.
Tampa Bay currently touts the second-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s found the net on 29.4 percent of their extra-man opportunities this season. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated 19th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.7 percent of all penalties.
Tampa Bay, as a collective unit, has been penalized 4.0 times per game overall this season, and 2.8 per game over its past five games. The team has had to stave off opposition power plays for just 6.9 minutes per game over its last 10 matchups, overall.
Sporting a .908 save percentage and 27.7 saves per game, Andrei Vasilevskiy (15-11-2) has been the most dependable goalkeeper for the Lightning this year. If the Bolts choose to give him a breather, however, head coach Jon Cooper could turn to Curtis McElhinney (3-6-6 record, .903 save percentage, 3.45 goals against average).
Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos will each lead the way for the Lightning. Kucherov (40 points) has tallied 13 goals and 27 assists and has recorded two or more points on nine different occasions this year. Stamkos has 13 goals and 19 assists to his credit and has recorded a point in 19 games.
On the other bench, Montreal is 18-19 straight up (SU) and has lost 5.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. 19 of its matches have gone over the total, while 16 have gone under the total and just two have pushed. As the visiting team, Montreal is 10-8 SU so far.
Montreal has converted on 22.7 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s good enough for seventh-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 28th overall and it’s successfully defended 75.2 percent of all opponent power plays.
Montreal’s players have been penalized only 3.3 times per game in total this season, and 4.2 per game over their last five contests. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 7.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Carey Price (2.86 goals against average and .906 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Montreal. Price is averaging 27.1 saves per game and owns a 16-14-3 record.
Tomas Tatar (15 goals, 17 assists) and Shea Weber (11 goals, 19 assists) have been standout playmakers for Montreal and will lead the offensive counter for the visiting Canadiens.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Free Picks
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Lightning, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- For both of these teams, the over has hit in four of their past five outings.
- This game features two offenses that fire the puck on goal a lot. Montreal has registered the league’s most shots on goal (35.2) while Tampa Bay has attempted the 10th-most (33.1).
- Over Montreal’s last ten games, four of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 4-0 in those games).
- This game features two of the tougher defenses in the league. Montreal skaters have given out the league’s fourth-most hits per game (27.8) while the Lightning have registered the 10th-most (23.3).
