Thursday night sees a matchup between the top two teams in the Atlantic Division as the 5-1-0 Tampa Bay Lightning look to gain two points on the 6-0-1 Montreal Canadiens. The Habs continue to own the best goal differential in the show despite limited play from their ringer, Carey Price.
Speaking of Price, the former Vezina and Hart Trophy Sportsbook will be the man between the pipes for Montreal tonight. He owns a 3-0-0 record and .939 save percentage in his three starts so far but his numbers against the Lightning are shockingly bad. In his five starts against T-Bay in his magnificent 2014-15 season, he went 0-4 with a save percentage of just .906.
Although I don’t expect those numbers to continue, they were the worst he posted against any opponent all season and the Lightning were just one of four teams No. 31 didn’t earn a win against in 2014-15.
TB has not confirmed Price’s counterpart tonight but there’s a solid chance it will be Ben Bishop, a goalie who is 3-1-0 despite owning a subpar .885 save percentage. Tampa’s offense has made up for any of Bishop’s shortcomings this season but it could be running into a brick wall tonight if Price has figured out how the Lightning were able to solve him two seasons ago.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
Sportsbooks such as Sportsbook had the Montreal Canadiens as -123 moneyline favorites in this particular NHL betting matchup earlier. The over under total, meanwhile, was set early at 5 before betting started to move the line at Sportsbook.
Odds Shark computer score prediction models pick a possible 4-1.6 win for the Canadiens on Thursday. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NHL matchups here.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Montreal Canadiens Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The Tampa Bay Lightning will try to spoil to the party on Thursday; they are 5-1-0 this season, while the Canadiens are 6-0-1. Tampa Bay is 3-2-1 on the totals; Montreal is 3-3-1. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Montreal vs Tampa Bay injuries news.
The Odds Shark NHL Power Rankings have the Montreal Canadiens at No. 27 and the Tampa Bay Lightning at No. 15 heading into this contest.
Statistical Matchup
Offensively, the game matches up the Montreal Canadiens No. 4-ranked offense (3.71 goals per game) against a Tampa Bay Lightning defense that ranks No. 14 at 2.83 goals per game allowed. The Canadiens Sportsbook has clicked at a 19.23% rate while the Lightning have a 88.24% rate on the penalty kill.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
In their last action, Tampa Bay was a 7-3 Sportsbook on the road against the Maple Leafs. Bettors on Tampa Bay at -134 on the moneyline collected their winnings from that game, while the total score (10) sent OVER bettors home happy as well.
In their last action, Montreal was a 3-2 Sportsbook on the road against the Islanders. Bettors on Montreal at +112 on the moneyline collected their winnings from that game, while the total score (5) sent PUSH bettors home happy as well.
Next Betting Matchups
Tampa Bay at New Jersey, Saturday, October 29th
Montreal home to Toronto, Saturday, October 29th