Canadiens vs Lightning Betting Odds, Trends, & Free Pick [4/1/17]

By
Jay Cooper
-

Montreal (44-24-9) at Tampa Bay (38-29-9)
When: Saturday, April 1st 2017
Where: Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: TVAS, FSN Sun

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The Tampa Bay Lightning look to continue their surge towards the playoffs when they entertain the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night in Tampa. The Lightning, who are three points behind Boston for the second Wild Card Spot in the East, have won four straight games after Thursday’s 5-3 win over Detroit without leading scorer Nikita Kucherov (illness). Tampa Bay had Friday off, but hopes to have Kucherov (38 goals, 80 points) in the lineup for both games this weekend – including Sunday’s matchup with Dallas. Captain Steven Stamkos, who has been out over four months after knee surgery, and fellow center Tyler Johnson (lower-body) are also close to returning. Without those superstar forwards, the Lightning have still managed to produce 18 goals in the last four games. Victor Hedman has 66 points, passing Roman Hamrlik (65) for the most by a Tampa Bay defenseman in a season, while Jonathan Drouin has four goals in the last four games and shares the team lead in game-winners (six) with Kucherov.

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Montreal has already clinched a postseason berth, but are now trying to capture the Atlantic Division title. The Canadiens have won three straight games, allowing four goals combined, and lead Ottawa by six points atop the division while playing one more game than the Senators. Montreal is 13-5-1 since Claude Julien replaced Michel Therrien as coach and are beginning to get production from their stars as the postseason approaches. Captain Max Pacioretty leads the way with 64 points, including four (two goals) in the last three games, and Alexander Radulov has three points in the past two games to push his total to 51. Brendan Gallagher is starting to get hot with two goals and three assists in the last two games while Tomas Plekanec had two points in the 6-2 victory over Florida on Thursday after recording the same amount in the previous 22. Defenseman Shea Weber, who is third on the team with 42 points, had a +11 rating in March after posting a -10 in February.

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Tampa may be a hot team right now, but Montreal is the king of the division right now and have won five of the last six meetings with Tampa. Montreal is also playing extremely well on the road. I’ll take the better team tonight.

Pick: Canadiens -105

W/L TRENDS

Montreal
  • Canadiens are 7-1 in their last 8 road games.
  • Canadiens are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. Atlantic.
  • Canadiens are 5-1 in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
  • Canadiens are 8-2 in their last 10 vs. Eastern Conference.
  • Canadiens are 12-4 in their last 16 overall.
  • Canadiens are 8-3 in their last 11 games following a win.
  • Canadiens are 43-21 in their last 64 Saturday games.
  • Canadiens are 2-6 in their last 8 when their opponent scores 5 goals or more in their previous game.
  • Canadiens are 0-8 in their last 8 after scoring 5 goals or more in their previous game.
Tampa Bay
  • Lightning are 4-0 in their last 4 overall.
  • Lightning are 10-1 in their last 11 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
  • Lightning are 7-1 in their last 8 vs. Atlantic.
  • Lightning are 6-1 in their last 7 games following a win.
  • Lightning are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
  • Lightning are 4-1 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
  • Lightning are 6-2 in their last 8 vs. Eastern Conference.

OU TRENDS

Montreal
  • Under is 12-2-4 in Canadiens last 18 when their opponent scores 5 goals or more in their previous game.
  • Under is 6-1-3 in Canadiens last 10 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
  • Under is 3-1-2 in Canadiens last 6 overall.
  • Under is 9-3-4 in Canadiens last 16 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
  • Under is 9-3-3 in Canadiens last 15 road games.
  • Under is 3-1-1 in Canadiens last 5 Saturday games.
  • Under is 12-4-5 in Canadiens last 21 vs. Eastern Conference.
  • Under is 5-2-3 in Canadiens last 10 games following a win.
  • Under is 11-5-4 in Canadiens last 20 games playing on 1 days rest.
Tampa Bay
  • Over is 4-0 in Lightning last 4 home games.
  • Over is 5-1 in Lightning last 6 overall.
  • Under is 4-1 in Lightning last 5 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
  • Under is 6-2 in Lightning last 8 games following a win.
  • Under is 5-2 in Lightning last 7 vs. Atlantic.
  • Under is 7-3 in Lightning last 10 vs. Eastern Conference.
  • Under is 11-5-3 in Lightning last 19 Saturday games.

HEAD TO HEAD

  • Canadiens are 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
  • Home team is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
  • Over is 6-2-2 in the last 10 meetings in Tampa Bay.

Trends courtesy of SportsOptions.com – an UltimateCapper.com partner

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