{"id":532248,"date":"2026-03-31T04:05:17","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T04:05:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/532248\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T04:05:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T04:05:17","slug":"montreal-canadiens-vs-tampa-bay-lightning-prediction-picks-odds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/532248\/","title":{"rendered":"Montreal Canadiens vs Tampa Bay Lightning Prediction, Picks &#038; Odds"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>    NHL Betting Preview: Canadiens vs Lightning<\/p>\n<p>The Montreal Canadiens go up against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Benchmark International Arena, with face-off scheduled for 16:00 on Tuesday, March 31.<\/p>\n<p>Lightning Stand Out as a Great Bet<\/p>\n<p>There is merit in backing the Lightning on the 3-Way Moneyline, with our prediction being that the home team will beat the Canadiens in 60 minutes. Especially as odds of -108 are available about this happening.<\/p>\n<p>Lightning Have Won 7 of Previous 10 H2H Encounters<\/p>\n<p>Montreal Canadiens won their previous game 3-1. This road victory at Lenovo Center against Carolina Hurricanes was their fifth on the spin. Nick Suzuki registered two goals, with Cole Caufield scoring one. Goalie Jakub Dobes was red hot in the net, stopping 34 shots (.971).<\/p>\n<p>Tampa Bay Lightning have enjoyed back-to-back wins, most recently beating Nashville Predators 3-2. It was a home success at Benchmark International Arena. Jake Guentzel had 3 points, featuring 1 goal and 2 assists. Goalie Jonas Johansson made 29 saves (.935).<\/p>\n<p>Head-to-Head Statistics<\/p>\n<p>The Lightning triumphed 5-4 when they last played the Habs. This head-to-head was played at Benchmark International Arena. The Lightning have three straight victories against the Habs. They have won 7 of the 10 previous head-to-head meetings.<\/p>\n<p>                     Starting Goalies<\/p>\n<p>                             <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/278.png\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" alt=\"\"\/><br \/>\n                             Jakub Dobes (Expected)<\/p>\n<p>                                Season<br \/>\n                                W-L-OTL:<br \/>\n                                GAA:<br \/>\n                                SV%:<br \/>\n                                SO:<\/p>\n<p>                                24\/25<br \/>\n                                25-8-4<br \/>\n                                2.8<br \/>\n                                .900<br \/>\n                                0<\/p>\n<p>                             <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/285.png\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" alt=\"\"\/><br \/>\n                             Andrei Vasilevskiy (Expected)<\/p>\n<p>                                Season<br \/>\n                                W-L-OTL:<br \/>\n                                GAA:<br \/>\n                                SV%:<br \/>\n                                SO:<\/p>\n<p>                                24\/25<br \/>\n                                35-12-4<br \/>\n                                2.3<br \/>\n                                .911<br \/>\n                                2<\/p>\n<p>                                23\/24<br \/>\n                                30-20-2<br \/>\n                                2.9<\/p>\n<p>.900<br \/>\n                                2<\/p>\n<p>            Montreal Canadiens \u2013 Last 10 Games<\/p>\n<p>7 wins and 3 losses, averaging 3.3 goals from 26.9 shots on goal, with a 15.8% powerplay efficiency. The Habs have given up 2.3 goals from 29.0 shots, averaging 3.2 penalties with a penalty-killing efficiency of 81.3%.<\/p>\n<p>Nick Suzuki is the top points scorer with 17 points, 5 goals and 12 assists, with Cole Caufield racking up 15 points, 9 goals and 6 assists, in the past 10 games. Goalie Jakub Dobes have a 1.83 goal against average with a .939 save percentage.<\/p>\n<p>            Tampa Bay Lightning \u2013 Last 10 Games<\/p>\n<p>The Lightning have 7 wins, 1 loss and 2 overtime losses, averaging 4.2 goals from 28.1 shots on goal, with a 18.0% powerplay efficiency. They have been conceding 2.6 goals from 25.8 shots, averaging 3.7 penalties per game with a penalty-killing efficiency of 94.6%.<\/p>\n<p>The top points scorer is Nikita Kucherov with 17 points, 6 goals and 11 assists, while Brandon Hagel is next best after having 14 points, 5 goals and 9 assists. Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy have a 2.00 GAA with a .918 SV%, including one shutout.<\/p>\n<p>    Montreal Canadiens vs Tampa Bay Lightning Prediction &amp; Picks<\/p>\n<p>The Montreal Canadiens vs Tampa Bay Lightning betting tips feature sharp analysis across major markets, including a key match prediction, correct score guidance and a ready-made bet builder.<\/p>\n<p>Game Prediction<\/p>\n<p>For this NHL clash, our pick is Tampa Bay Lightning to win in regulation time against inferior opposition and we think that the -108 represents an attractive bet on the 60-minute line.<\/p>\n<p>The NHL experts at Sportsgambler.com start by analyzing recent form and staying on top of injury news before making any hockey predictions. From there, we interpret the story the stats are telling to help shape our picks.<\/p>\n<p>Key Canadiens vs Lightning stats:<\/p>\n<p>            Lightning have won 15 of their last 20 games at home.Lightning have won 7 of their last 10 games.Lightning have won 2 consecutive games.Lightning have won the last 3 games between these teams.Lightning 3-Way Moneyline Probability<\/p>\n<p>Looking at the latest betting odds, there\u2019s a 51.8% likelihood of our pick delivering a return. Our experts think there\u2019s a stronger chance of success and calculate the probability to be 55-60%. This is why we regard this as a value bet.<\/p>\n<p>Looking for Bigger Odds?<\/p>\n<p>If you can correctly predict that Tampa Bay will win along with the number of goals, then you are able to combine the two picks by going down the Match Winner &amp; Total Goals route.<\/p>\n<p>Before you back your picks, see how far a bonus can take you \u2014 our guide highlights the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsgambler.com\/betting-offers\/\" style=\"color: blue;font-weight: bold;\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">top betting offers<\/a> live now.<\/p>\n<p>\n            Our Game Prediction\n        <\/p>\n<p>        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsgambler.com\/betting-sites\/go\/thrill\/casino?utm_campaign=sgc\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"tpbot_tip\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n            Lightning 3-Way Moneyline @ -108<br \/>\n        <\/a><br \/>\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsgambler.com\/betting-sites\/go\/thrill\/casino?utm_campaign=sgc\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"tpbot_btns\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>            Bet Now<br \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/3197-Thrill-370x100-dark.370x100.100.png.webp.jpeg\" alt=\"Thrill logo\"\/><br \/>\n        <\/a><\/p>\n<p>                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/3197-Thrill-370x100-dark.370x100.100.png.webp.jpeg\" width=\"140\" height=\"38\" alt=\"Thrill logo\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>                Thrill Promo<br \/>\n                70% Rakeback + 10% Cashback<br \/>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsgambler.com\/betting-sites\/go\/thrill\/casino?utm_campaign=sgc\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"btn inline-flex justify-center align-center pulsate-bck\" style=\"background-color: #fff; color: #000;\" target=\"_blank\">Get Bonus<\/a><br \/>\n                T&amp;C apply. Gamble responsibly 18+<\/p>\n<p>        Disclosure: This preview contains affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. T&amp;Cs apply. We only recommend licensed and regulated operators. See our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsgambler.com\/editorial-policy\/\" style=\"color: blue; font-weight: bold;\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Editorial Policy<\/a>. Pick odds and lines reflect the price available at the time of publication (Mar 30, 20:56). Live market odds are updated regularly and may differ. 18+ (or legal age) | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsgambler.com\/gamble-responsibly\/\" style=\"color: blue; font-weight: bold;\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Gamble Responsibly<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Published 20:56, 30 March 2026<\/p>\n<p>                Montreal Canadiens vs Tampa Bay Lightning Odds<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 12px;padding: 10px; background-color: #f2f5f6\">The odds and lines below are updated regularly and may differ from the prices shown in our picks, which are captured at the time of publication.<\/p>\n<p>Books Expecting a Lightning Victory<\/p>\n<p>The sportsbooks\u2019 betting odds have Tampa Bay Lightning as -175 favorites for this game, implying that they are 64% likely to win. For those wanting to back Montreal Canadiens, you will find +146 about the underdogs.<\/p>\n<p>There is a puck line of 1.5 and total goals has a line of 6.5. The beauty of Totals is that you only have to choose from one of two options. If you fancy Over 6.5, this outcome can be backed at -105.<\/p>\n<p>You can find a huge selection of team props and game lines for every National Hockey League matchup, with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsgambler.com\/betting-sites\/app\/\" style=\"color: blue;font-weight: bold;\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">top betting apps<\/a> creating many different options. Check out the in-game and pre-game selections before placing your wagers.<\/p>\n<p>Live market odds and lines updated regularly. All odds subject to change. T&amp;Cs apply. 18+ (or legal age) | Gamble Responsibly.<\/p>\n<p>Team Stats<\/p>\n<p>Latest regular season and playoff games stats.<\/p>\n<p>                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/278.png\" height=\"90\"  alt=\"Montreal Canadiens logo\"\/><br \/>\n                        Montreal Canadiens Stats<\/p>\n<p>                            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/285.png\" height=\"90\"  alt=\"Tampa Bay Lightning logo\"\/><\/p>\n<p>                         Tampa Bay Lightning Stats<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t            7 wins and 3 defeats in the last 10 games<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t            6 wins and 4 defeats in the last 10 games on the road<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t            7 wins and 3 defeats in the last 10 games<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t            6 wins and 4 defeats in the last 10 home games<\/p>\n<p>                            \t+1.5 Betting Line: Have covered the +1.5 puck line in 8 of the last 10 games<br \/>\n                            \t+1.5 Betting Line on the Road: Have covered the +1.5 puck line in 8 of the last 10 games on the road<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t        \t-1.5 Betting Line: Have covered the -1.5 puck line in 6 of the last 10 games<br \/>\n                            \t-1.5 Betting Line at Home: Have covered the -1.5 puck line in 5 of the last 10 home games<\/p>\n<p>                                Game Totals: An average of 5.60 goals in the previous 10 games<br \/>\n                            \tGame Totals on the Road: An average of 6.70 goals in the previous 10 games on the road<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t        \tOver 6.5: Covered in 3 of the previous 10 games<br \/>\n                            \tOver 6.5 on the Road: Covered in 4 of the previous 10 games on the road<br \/>\n                            \tTeam Totals: Have scored an average of 3.30 goals and allowed 2.30 goals in the last 10 games<br \/>\n                            \tTeam Totals on the Road: Have scored an average of 3.70 pts and allowed 3.00 goals in the last 10 games on the road<\/p>\n<p>                            Game Totals: An average of 6.80 goals in the previous 10 games<br \/>\n                            \tGame Totals at Home: An average of 6.60 goals in the previous 10 home games<br \/>\n                            \tOver 6.5: Covered in 6 of the previous 10 games<br \/>\n                            \tOver 6.5 at Home: Covered in 5 of the previous 10 home games<br \/>\n                            \tTeam Totals: Have scored an average of 4.20 goals and allowed 2.60 goals in the last 10 games<br \/>\n                            \tTeam Totals at Home: Have scored an average of 3.60 goals and allowed 3.00 goals in the last 10 home games<\/p>\n<p>Last 10 Games<\/p>\n<p>                            \tGoals Powerplay: 0.6<br \/>\n                            \tShots: 26.9<br \/>\n                            \tGoals Shorthanded: 0<br \/>\n                            \tPenalties: 3.2<br \/>\n                            \tEmpty Net Goals: 0.1<br \/>\n                            \tPenalty Minutes: 8.2<br \/>\n                            \tBlocks: 11.6<br \/>\n                            \tFaceoff Wins : 28.4<br \/>\n                            \tHits: 23.5<br \/>\n                            \tGiveaways: 16<br \/>\n                            \tTakeaways: 4.4              \t<\/p>\n<p>Last 10 Games on the Road<\/p>\n<p>                                Goals Powerplay: 0.9<br \/>\n                            \tShots: 27.1<br \/>\n                            \tGoals Shorthanded: 0.1<br \/>\n                            \tPenalties: 3.7<br \/>\n                            \tEmpty Net Goals: 0.2<br \/>\n                            \tPenalty Minutes: 7.4<br \/>\n                            \tBlocks: 11.4<br \/>\n                            \tFaceoff Wins : 30.3<br \/>\n                            \tHits: 22.7<br \/>\n                            \tGiveaways: 15.2<br \/>\n                            \tTakeaways: 4.5    <\/p>\n<p>Last 10 Games<\/p>\n<p>                                Goals Powerplay: 0.7<br \/>\n                            \tShots: 28.1<br \/>\n                            \tGoals Shorthanded: 0.2<br \/>\n                            \tPenalties: 3.7<br \/>\n                            \tEmpty Net Goals: 0.5<br \/>\n                            \tPenalty Minutes: 10.3<br \/>\n                            \tBlocks: 17.1<br \/>\n                            \tFaceoff Wins : 26.2<br \/>\n                            \tHits: 18.6<br \/>\n                            \tGiveaways: 15.3<br \/>\n                            \tTakeaways: 4 <\/p>\n<p>Last 10 Home Games<\/p>\n<p>                            Goals Powerplay: 0.6<br \/>\n                            \tShots: 28.1<br \/>\n                            \tGoals Shorthanded: 0<br \/>\n                            \tPenalties: 5.9<br \/>\n                            \tEmpty Net Goals: 0.3<br \/>\n                            \tPenalty Minutes: 20.8<br \/>\n                            \tBlocks: 16.4<br \/>\n                            \tFaceoff Wins : 27.2<br \/>\n                            \tHits: 23.4<br \/>\n                            \tGiveaways: 13.4<br \/>\n                            \tTakeaways: 3.5 <\/p>\n<p>                Starting Lineups<\/p>\n<p>Both teams\u2019 confirmed lineups will be published ahead of face-off. There is also the chance to look at the lineups from the previous 10 games.<\/p>\n<p>                Expert Analysis by Robert Carter<\/p>\n<p class=\"expert-subtitle italic margin-bottom-2\">NHL Analyst<\/p>\n<p>                About the Analyst<\/p>\n<p>Our ice hockey previews are produced by a specialised team of analysts, former odds compilers and sports journalists. Picks are research-driven and reviewed for accuracy and editorial consistency under the oversight of our hockey panel and Editor-in-Chief.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsgambler.com\/writers\/robert-carter\/\" class=\"expert-link inline-flex align-center relative\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">View Profile &amp; Track Record<\/a><\/p>\n<p>                NHL Predictions Methodology<\/p>\n<p>Our NHL analysis combines the latest\u00a0team news, injury reports and\u00a0line changes\u00a0with recent form and market movement. We factor in\u00a0situational analysis\u00a0like home ice advantage and schedule spots. Metrics such as\u00a0Corsi, Fenwick, Expected Goals (xG) and\u00a0PDO\u00a0are used to evaluate\u00a0puck possession, shot quality, goaltending performance and special teams efficiency\u00a0beyond the traditional box score.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsgambler.com\/how-picks-are-made\/\" class=\"expert-link inline-flex align-center relative\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full Methodology &amp; Data Sources<\/a><\/p>\n<p>                Where to Bet<\/p>\n<p>The betting site referenced has been independently reviewed under our published <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsgambler.com\/review\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">review methodology<\/a>, which evaluates betting lines, odds and market depth, licensing and security, payment processes, withdrawal reliability, responsible gambling tools and additional platform criteria relevant to user experience and regulatory standards.<\/p>\n<p class=\"expert-link inline-flex align-center relative\">\u00a0Read our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsgambler.com\/review\/thrill\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Thrill Analyst Review<\/a><\/p>\n<p>                Transparency &amp; Safety<\/p>\n<p>This preview was last updated on Mar 30, 20:56 to reflect the latest team news, injury reports, confirmed lines and pairings, starting goaltenders, lineup changes, schedule context, key performance metrics and odds movement.<\/p>\n<p>All analysis is produced by professional analysts and reviewed by our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsgambler.com\/writers\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ice Hockey Editorial Betting Panel<\/a> for accuracy and consistency.<\/p>\n<p>Historical performance for our game predictions is tracked and updated regularly for transparency.<\/p>\n<p class=\"fs-300\">\n                        Important: Betting should be treated as entertainment and involves risk. Past results are not indicative of future performance. Only wager what you can afford to lose.\n                    <\/p>\n<p class=\"fs-300\">\n                        18+ (or legal age). If gambling is causing harm or distress, support is available. Visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsgambler.com\/gamble-responsibly\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Gamble Responsibly<\/a> hub for safer gambling tools, self-exclusion options and local helplines.<br \/>\n                        <br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsgambler.com\/editorial-policy\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Editorial Policy<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsgambler.com\/disclaimer\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Disclaimer<\/a>\n                    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"NHL Betting Preview: Canadiens vs Lightning The Montreal Canadiens go up against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Benchmark&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":279172,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5105],"tags":[5,189,4,540,92,5168,5167],"class_list":{"0":"post-532248","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-tampa-bay-lightning","8":"tag-hockey","9":"tag-lightning","10":"tag-nhl","11":"tag-tampa-bay","12":"tag-tampa-bay-lightning","13":"tag-tampabay","14":"tag-tampabaylightning"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nhl\/116321814407610466","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/532248","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=532248"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/532248\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/279172"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=532248"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=532248"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=532248"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}