The NHL was scheduled to have a break around Christmas but, with the ongoing COVID-19 issues, it was extended a bit. However, we’re back with three games today so let’s breakdown those games and try and find some winners!
Montreal Canadiens @ Tampa Bay Lightning
- Time: 7:00 PM ET
- TV Coverage: ESPN+
- Tampa Bay Lightning: 20-6-4, 1st Atlantic (10-3-2 Home)
- Montreal Canadiens: 7-21-3, 8th Atlantic (2-11-2 Away)
| Team | Opening ML | Current ML | Spread | Total |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +231 | +240 | -1.5 (-120) | o6.0 (-115) |
| Montreal Canadiens | -260 | -290 | +1.5 (+100) | u6.0 (-105) |
Trends:
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Montreal’s last 5 games.
- Montreal are 1-7 SU in their last 8 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Tampa Bay’s last 6 games.
- Tampa Bay are 8-1 SU in their last 9 games.
Preview:
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning come into this matchup red hot, only dropping one game so far during the month of December. They defeated Vegas on Tuesday night, 4-3, snapping Vegas’ 5 game winning streak.
Tampa will continue to be without head coach, Jon Cooper, who remains in COVID protocol. So, assistant coach Derek Lalonde will remain as the de facto head coach.
The Bolts have definitely been better offensively as of late but, are still without two of their top guys tonight in Point and Kucherov. In addition to those two, Tampa will also be without forwards Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Anthony Cirelli who are in COVID protocols. The Lightning currently average 2.46 Goals For Per 60 with a -3.21 Goals For Above Expected. Like I mentioned before, the loss of Kucherov continues to impact them especially on the Power Play where they rank 18th.
Defensively, Tampa will have to limit scoring chances like they’ve done all season given their situation in net. The Lightning have one of the best Goals Against Above Expected, -13.28, but, Andrei Vasilevskiy has played a major role in that number. Without him tonight, their defense will have to step up without a few key pieces. They’ll be without Mikhail Sergachev and Andrej Sustr as they have been placed in COVID protocols.
In net, Tampa will have Maxime Lagace, as Andrei Vasilevskiy and Brian Elliot are both out due to COVID. Lagace has played all season in Syracuse for Tampa’s AHL affiliate team.
Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens last game came back on December 16th, where they defeated Philadelphia 3-2 in a Shoot Out. They’ve had four games postponed since then due to an outbreak. Montreal will start a three game road trip tonight where they’ll face several of the NHL’s top team’s with a depleted roster.
This is not even close to the team we saw the Hab’s face off against the Lightning in last year’s Stanley Cup finals. The loss of Carey Price and Shea Weber to start the season were back breaking and with a majority of the team still in COVID protocols, this team will have their work cut out for them tonight.
There’s really not many positives to talk about when it comes to this team. Offensively, they have been awful averaging just 1.8 Goals For Per 60. On the other side of the puck, they have also struggled allowing an average of 2.54 Goals Against Per 60.
Sam Montembeault will get the start in net for Montreal tonight with a -4.8 GSAx on the season in his 8 games played.
Pick:
- TB/ MTL OVER 6.0 (-115)
- Given the current goalie situations for both teams, I like the Over in his position. The Canadiens will have a roster of young guns looking to prove themselves and trying to earn a permeant spot on the roster. The best way to do that will be to generate offensive for a team that so desperately needs it. While the Lightning are without a few key pieces, they have shown that it hasn’t impacted them much at all. Both teams have been trending towards the under but I think the Bolts continue to roll in a 5-2, 5-3 win tonight.
Best of luck, and as always you can find me on Twitter @GatorBetting and Instagram @Gator_Sports_Betting.
