Tampa Bay Lightning vs Montreal Canadiens Prediction, 1/21/2025 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Tampa Bay Lightning vs Montreal Canadiens

Date: Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Location: Bell Centre in Montreal, QC

TV: TSN

Odds/Point Spread: Lightning (-182) Canadiens (+150)

Bell Centre is where the Montreal Canadiens (23-19-4) will try to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning (25-16-3) on Tuesday. The moneyline on this game has Tampa Bay at -182 and Montreal opens at +150. The total comes in at 6.5.

The Tampa Bay Lightning were on the winning side of the scoreboard with a 5-1 win against the Red Wings in their previous outing. Tampa Bay accrued 14 minutes in the box in this contest. The Lightning had a good offensive performance and it was apparent in the win. In addition, they had 3 power play opportunities and were able to net 2 goals. In the game, they converted 5 of the 22 shots they put on net.

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Concerning scoring goals, the Tampa Bay Lightning have accumulated 161 goals (3rd in the league) for the season and have allowed 122. For the season, they have earned 53 points and their points % is .602. Tampa Bay comes into tonight with 129 power play opportunities and they have added 35 goals out of those tries, giving them a percentage of 27.13%. While playing at even strength, the Lightning let the opposition score 101 goals while getting 126 when they are on offense. Tampa Bay has attempted 1,257 shots and holds a shot percentage of 12.8%. The Lightning so far have had 1,270 shots tried against them and hold a save percentage of .904. Tampa Bay Lightning opponents have totaled 119 power play opportunities (25th in the NHL) and have racked up 21 goals in those attempts.

The player guarding the cage in this matchup is Jonas Johansson. For his professional hockey career, Johansson has tallied 26 quality starts and his rate for quality starts is .426. He has a save percentage of .890 for his 3,274 minutes on the ice. Johansson has had 1,928 shots taken against him and has recorded 1,716 saves. The opposition has scored 212 goals against Johansson in his pro hockey career and his goals against rate is 3.89. He has a win-loss record of 28-23-10 and was named the starter in 61 games. Johansson has taken the ice for 71 games over the course of his hockey career.

When they took the ice last, Montreal squared up with the Maple Leafs in an outing where the Canadiens took the defeat by a final of 7-3. They had 5 chances on the power play in this one and notched 1 out of those chances. The Canadiens recorded 3 goals of the 35 shots on goal they were seeking.

Montreal has tried 1,199 shots (28th in hockey) and has accumulated a shooting percentage of 11.68%, while allowing their opponents 1,326 shots. They have a penalty kill rate of 81.25% on their opponents 160 power play tries, and their save percentage comes in at 88.5%. They have earned 142 chances on the power play and they have accumulated a power play rate of 20.42%. The Canadiens are sitting with 111 goals at even strength and 29 goals (13th in professional hockey) while on the power play. They have permitted 153 goals to be scored by way of 123 goals at even strength and 30 goals while they were shorthanded. Over the course of the season, the Montreal Canadiens have accumulated 140 goals, 50 points, as well as a points percentage of .543.

For the opposition you will find Sam Montembeault protecting the goal. He has compiled 4,801 stops out of 5,348 shots tried, giving him a save % of .898. Montembeault is the owner of a career record of 65-76-24 and has been in net for 179 games. He was named a starter in 162 games and has been on the ice for 8,077 minutes. Montembeault's quality start rate sits at 52.5% and he has made 85 quality starts in his pro career. Opponents are averaging 4.06 goals/game and he has relinquished 547 goals overall.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Tampa Bay (-182)

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