Max Domi, Jonathan Drouin, and the Montreal Canadiens will do battle against Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, and the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena in an Atlantic Division tilt. Fox Sports Sun will air the action, which gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 16.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Odds
The Lightning (-210) are currently heavily favored over the Canadiens (+175), and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -125 for the over and +105 for the under.
Tampa Bay is 43-15 straight-up (SU) and has earned 18.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. That win percentage, best in the NHL so far this season, is an improvement compared to what the team did during last year’s regular season (54-28). Through 58 regular season contests, 30 of its games have gone over the total, while 25 have gone under and just three have pushed. The team is 23-7 SU at home this season.
The Lightning currently have the best power-play unit in the NHL, as the team has converted on 30.0 percent of their extra-man opportunities this year. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked second overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 84.4 percent of all penalties.
Averaging 30.4 saves per game with a .927 save percentage, Andrei Vasilevskiy (24-11-4) has been the best goalkeeper for Tampa Bay this year. If the Bolts, however, decide to give him the evening off, Tampa Bay may turn to Louis Domingue (18-4-4 record, .907 save percentage, 2.90 goals against average).
Over on the other bench, Montreal is 31-26 straight up (SU) and has netted 7.0 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of 30 of its matches have gone under the total, while 25 have gone over and just two have pushed. The Canadiens are 14-12 SU as the visiting team this season.
The Canadiens have converted on just 13.3 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that’s ranked 32nd in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 19th overall and it’s successfully killed off 79.7 percent of all penalties.
Carey Price (27.2 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for Montreal. Price has 23 wins, 20 losses, and five overtime losses to his credit, and has registered a .915 save percentage and 2.56 goals against average this year.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Predictions
NHL Prediction: SU Winner – Lightning, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- The Lightning (4-1 in shootouts) has more experience this season in games decided by shootout. The Canadiens, on the other hand,emerged victorious in both of its shootouts this year.
- For both of these teams, the total has gone over in three of their past five matchups.
- Montreal’s attempted 33.5 shots per game overall this season (the second-most in the NHL), and 27.4 in its last five road outings.
- Six of Montreal’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 4-2 in those games.
- This game features two of the tougher teams in the league. Montreal skaters have accounted for the league’s fifth-most hits per game (27.1) and the Bolts have registered the eighth-most (25.4).
