Montréal Canadiens vs Tampa Bay Lightning Picks and Predictions January 21st 2025

Montréal Canadiens vs Tampa Bay Lightning January 21st 2025

Looking to win big? The Lightning and Canadiens face off at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The Canadiens are hosting the game at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC. The Lightning are favored by -1.5 in this Atlantic division showdown. The game’s over/under is currently at 6 goals.

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Tampa Bay vs. Montreal Key Information

• Teams: Lightning at Canadiens
• Where: Bell Centre Montreal
• Date: Tuesday, January 21st
• Betting Odds TB -142 | MON +121 O/U 6

The Lightning Can Win If…

After a 7-4 loss to the Jets, Tampa Bay’s record now stands at 25-17-3. The Lightning were underdogs on the puck line, and the game’s total of 11 goals easily surpassed the pre-game line of 6.5.

Tampa Bay initially led 2-0, but Winnipeg responded with seven of the next nine goals. Four different Lightning players found the net in the game.

Tampa Bay’s offense managed 4 goals on 30 shots in their 7-4 loss to the Jets. Brandon Hagel opened the scoring with his 7th goal of the season, followed by Brayden Point’s 8th, which came on a power play. Mitchell Chaffee added his 4th goal, and Nikita Kucherov netted his 10th.

The Lightning scored twice in the first period, added a third goal in the second, and found the net for the final time at 13:09 of the third period. They recorded 8 giveaways in the game.

After tying the game at 4-4 in the third period, Tampa Bay’s defense struggled, allowing three unanswered goals to the Jets, including two empty-netters. Jonas Johansson made 27 saves with an 84.4% save percentage, while the Lightning’s defense recorded 6 takeaways and 16 hits.

• Over their last three games, the Lightning have gone 2-1 straight up. But, they did not perform well vs the puck line in these games, going 1-2. Their over-under record in these matchups was 2-0-1.
• Tampa Bay has put together a record of 5-5 in their last ten games (regular season). The team’s record vs the puck line was just 6-4, in addition to an over-under mark of 4-5-1.

The Canadiens Can Win If…

Following their 3-1 loss to the Penguins, the Canadiens now sit at 23-19-4. Montreal, the underdogs on the puck line, failed to cover. The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score of 4 fell short of that mark.

Montreal’s only goal came in the third period, narrowing the deficit to 2-1 before the Penguins added an empty-netter. Christian Dvorak scored for the Canadiens at 14:28 in the third.

Montreal’s offense struggled in their 3-1 loss to Pittsburgh, with Christian Dvorak netting his first goal of the season at 14:28 in the third period. Juraj Slafkovsky picked up his 7th assist, while Emil Heineman added his first.

The Canadiens fired 26 shots on goal but were held scoreless until the third period. They recorded 20 giveaways and failed to convert on any power play opportunities.

Montreal’s defense gave up the first two goals in their previous game, with both coming from Sidney Crosby. The first was at 15:57 in the 1st period, and the second was a power-play goal at 18:40 in the 2nd. After the Canadiens made it 2-1 in the 3rd, they conceded an empty-netter with 45 seconds left, leading to a 3-1 loss. Sam Montembeault recorded 21 saves with a 91.3% save percentage, while Montreal’s defense added 4 takeaways and 28 hits.

• Montreal will look to keep things rolling as they have put together a mark of 2-1 over their past three games. This also includes going 2-1 puck line and an over-under mark of 2-1.
• The Canadiens have gone 7-3 over their last ten regular season games. Across these games, their puck line record was just 8-2, while posting an over-under record of 4-5-1.

The Lean

If you’re looking for a moneyline pick, my choice is the Canadiens to take down the Lightning at home. With the moneyline currently at +121, I’m placing my bet on the Canadiens straight-up.

Our projections have the Canadiens pulling out a win as the underdog. But if you’re not as bullish as we are on the Canadiens, we’d recommend at least getting a bet down on them to cover the puck line.

With an over/under line sitting at 6 goals, we like this game to surpass that mark and recommend getting a bet down on the over.

Daily NHL Picks & Predictions

Canadiens Aim to Keep Playoff Push Alive vs. Lightning

The Montreal Canadiens look to build on their strong run of form as they host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night in an important Atlantic Division matchup.

Montreal Canadiens: Surging Into the Playoff Picture

The Canadiens (23-19-4) have been red-hot, posting a 12-3-1 record in their last 16 games. This run has propelled them into serious playoff contention, now sitting just two points out of the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Their recent success started with a 6-1 win over Buffalo on Dec. 17 and has been fueled by consistent team effort.

On Sunday, Montreal bounced back from a disappointing 7-3 loss to Toronto by defeating the New York Rangers 5-4 in overtime. Patrik Laine scored the game-winner, and defenseman Lane Hutson extended his assist streak to eight games, tying an NHL rookie blue-liner record.

Defenseman Mike Matheson highlighted the team’s resilience: “We’ve been playing great hockey. A loss like the one to Toronto reminds us how tough the league is, but we’re staying confident and sticking to what’s been working.”

Tampa Bay Lightning: Searching for Consistency

The Lightning (26-15-2) are coming off a 5-3 loss to Toronto on Monday night, a game in which they trailed for nearly 56 minutes. Despite cutting the deficit to one goal three times, they couldn’t find the equalizer. Coach Jon Cooper emphasized the importance of starting strong: “We’ve been playing two-period games lately, and against teams like Toronto, that’s not enough.”

Nick Paul scored twice, bringing his season total to 12 goals, while Darren Raddysh extended his point streak to four games with two assists. Andrei Vasilevskiy, expected to start against Montreal, has been solid this season with a 20-13-2 record, a 2.35 goals-against average, and a .916 save percentage.

What to Watch

• Montreal’s Momentum: With a strong home record and growing confidence, can the Canadiens capitalize on Tampa Bay’s recent struggles?
• Vasilevskiy Factor: The Lightning goalie is one of the best in the league, and his performance could be a game-changer.
• Key Players: Watch for Lane Hutson to continue his stellar rookie campaign for Montreal, while Tampa Bay’s Nick Paul and Darren Raddysh look to stay hot.

Prediction

Montreal’s recent form and home-ice advantage make them a tough challenge for Tampa Bay. However, the Lightning’s experience and Vasilevskiy’s presence in net give them an edge if they can avoid another slow start. Expect a close, hard-fought game with playoff implications for both teams.