Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning NHL Picks, Odds, Predictions 6/30/2021

The Montreal Canadiens and the Tampa Bay Lightning meet in game two of the Stanley Cup finals in NHL action from the Amalie Arena on Wednesday night.

The Montreal Canadiens will look to even the series after dropping the series opener last time out by a final score of 5-1.

Erik Cernak opened the scoring for the Bolts with the lone goal of the opening period before Yanni Gourde doubled Tampa Bay’s lead less than six minutes into the second period. Ben Chiarot got Montreal on the board with just over two minutes to go in the middle period, but Nikita Kucherov would restore the Lightning’s two-goal cushion two minutes into the 3^rd period. Kucherov would double his goal tally and push the lead to 4-1 just past the midway point of the 3^rd period before Steven Stamkos iced Tampa Bay’s with a 5^th team goal on the power play with just over a minute to play.

Andrei Vasilevskiy got the win in goal for Tampa Bay after stopping 18 of 19 shots faced in the win while Carey Price ended up with the loss between the pipes for Montreal after allowing five goals on 27 shots faced in the defeat.

Montreal is 11-3 in their last 14 games overall and 9-3 in their last 12 games as an underdog while the under is 3-1-4 in their last  8 games overall. Tampa Bay is 93-43 in their last 136 games overall and 49-19 in their last 68 home games while the under is 7-1-2 in their last 10 games following a win.

I get the case that could be made for Tampa Bay here at home, especially after game one’s dominance. However, there were some extra curriculars at the end of game one that Montreal took exception to, and I think that the Canadiens come out fired up to get some revenge. Also, I’m thinking that if Montreal doesn’t win this one, this may end up being a short series. I’ll take a shot with Montreal and the plus money in this spot.