Tampa Bay Lightning vs Montreal Canadiens Prediction, 4/4/2024 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Tampa Bay Lightning vs Montreal Canadiens

Date: Thursday, April 4, 2024

Location: Bell Centre in Montreal, QC

TV: TSN

Odds/Point Spread: Lightning (-175) Canadiens (+140)

Bell Centre is the location where the Montreal Canadiens (29-33-12) will attempt to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning (41-26-7) on Thursday. The moneyline on this game has the Lightning at -175 while the Canadiens are sitting at +140. The over/under has been set at 7.

The Tampa Bay Lightning were on the wrong end of the scoreboard with a 4-2 loss to the Red Wings in their previous outing. Tampa Bay compiled 6 mins in the box for this game. The Lightning had a below average offensive outing in the loss. Furthermore, they had 3 attempts on the power play and netted 1 goal. For the game, they netted 2 of the 36 shots they put on goal.

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Concerning their scoring, the Tampa Bay Lightning have racked up 256 goals (7th in the league) this season and have given up 241. For the current campaign, they have earned 89 points and their points percentage is .601. Tampa Bay steps onto the ice with 222 power play chances and they have tallied 65 goals out of those chances, earning them a percentage of 29.28%. While at even strength, the Lightning have surrendered 205 goals while notching 191 on offense. Tampa Bay has taken 2,149 shots and has a shooting percentage of 11.9%. The Lightning have seen 2,178 shots tried against them and hold a save percentage of .889. Tampa Bay Lightning opponents have amassed 210 power play opportunities (27th in hockey) and have a total of 36 goals in those chances.

The player guarding the cage in this matchup is Andrei Vasilevskiy. The opposition has racked up 1,183 goals versus Vasilevskiy in his pro hockey career and his goals against rate is 2.56. Vasilevskiy has taken the ice for 472 contests during his pro hockey career. His save percentage is .917 for his 27,756 minutes on the ice. He has a win-loss mark of 291-140-30 and he was named the starter in 462 games. Throughout his time in hockey, Vasilevskiy has accounted for 263 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is .569. Vasilevskiy has had 14,234 shots against him and has accrued 13,051 saves.

Their last time out, Montreal faced the Panthers in an outing where the Canadiens took home the win by a final of 5-3. They had 7 opportunities on the power play in this contest and converted 1 out of those attempts. The Canadiens recorded 5 goals of the 39 shots on goal they attempted.

The Canadiens have accumulated 159 goals at even strength and 42 goals (22nd in hockey) while on the power play. Montreal has put up 2,063 shots (27th in hockey) and has a shooting percentage of 9.74%, while allowing the opposition 2,441 shots. For the year, the Montreal Canadiens have earned a total of 201 goals, 70 points, as well as a points percentage of .473. They have permitted 246 goals to be scored by way of 188 goals at even strength and 58 goals while they had less men on the ice. They have a total of 240 power play opportunities and they have a power play percentage of 17.50%. They have recorded a penalty kill percentage of 77.25% on their oppositions 255 tries on the power play, and their save percentage sits at 89.9%.

On the other side of the ice you are going to see Sam Montembeault protecting the net. Montembeault has earned a career mark of 48-59-19 and has played in 140 games. Montembeault's rate of quality starts comes out to 53.2% and he has accumulated 66 quality starting assignments in his career. He has accounted for 3,864 saves out of 4,300 shots attempted, giving him a percentage of .899. His opponents are averaging 3.36 goals/game and he has surrendered 436 goals overall. He was named a starter in 124 games and his ice time sits at 7,784 mins.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh's Pick: Take Tampa Bay (-175)

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