The Tampa Bay Lightning (30-20-4) bring their high-powered offense to the Bell Centre for a Sunday afternoon showdown against the Montreal Canadiens (25-25-5) in what promises to be an intriguing Atlantic Division matchup.
The Lightning enter the contest riding high after a commanding 5-1 victory over the Senators, showcasing their offensive prowess that has produced 3.49 goals per game this season, led by the dynamic trio of Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, and Brandon Hagel who have combined for 78 goals.
Montreal, despite their struggles this season, has shown flashes of potential on home ice, with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield leading their attack with a combined 41 goals and 60 assists.
The contrast between Tampa Bay's third-best divisional record and Montreal's position near the bottom of the Atlantic adds an extra layer of intrigue to this matchup, with both teams looking to make a statement before the upcoming break.
While the Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy has been stellar with a .918 save percentage, the Canadiens' young netminder Jakub Dobes has impressed with a .917 save percentage, suggesting this could be a closer battle than the standings might indicate.
As these longtime rivals prepare to face off at the Bell Centre, fans will be watching closely to see if the Lightning can maintain their offensive momentum or if the Canadiens can defend their home ice against one of the division's top performers.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning: who will win?
For tonight's Montreal Canadiens vs Tampa Bay Lightning matchup, our predictive model gives the Lightning a 59% chance of defeating the Canadiens.
Tampa Bay Lightning: 59% win probability
- Explosive offense (192 goals scored, highest in Eastern Conference)
- Better overall record (30-20-4 vs Canadiens' 25-25-5)
- Strong recent form (WWWLW compared to Canadiens' LLWLL)
Montreal Canadiens: 41% win probability
- Poor defensive record (189 goals against, 3rd worst in Eastern Conference)
- Struggling recent form (LLWLL in last 5 games)
- Lower points total (55 points in 55 games vs Lightning's 64 in 54)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts. Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning odds
| Montreal Canadiens | Tampa Bay Lightning | |
|---|---|---|
| moneyline | +132 (via FanDuel Sportsbook) | -140 (via Caesars Sportsbook) |
Key stats
- 1The Montreal Canadiens have won 25 out of 55 matches this season.
- 2The Tampa Bay Lightning have won 30 out of 54 matches this season.
- 3With 55 points, the Montreal Canadiens holds the 13th position in the league standings.
- 4Tampa Bay Lightning's 64 points place them 6th in the rankings.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning form
Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning head to head
Montreal Canadiens
33%
Tampa Bay Lightning
67%
Jan 22, 2025
Montreal Canadiens
3 : 2
Tampa Bay Lightning
Dec 29, 2024
Tampa Bay Lightning
2 : 5
Montreal Canadiens
Apr 4, 2024
Montreal Canadiens
4 : 7
Tampa Bay Lightning
Mar 3, 2024
Tampa Bay Lightning
4 : 3
Montreal Canadiens
Jan 1, 2024
Tampa Bay Lightning
4 : 3
Montreal Canadiens
Nov 8, 2023
Montreal Canadiens
3 : 5
Tampa Bay Lightning
