Tampa Bay Lightning vs Montreal Canadiens prediction 12-31-23 NHL Picks

The Montreal Canadiens need a win after losing 3 of their last 4 games. The Tampa Bay Lightning look for a win after splitting their last 10 games. Let’s preview this game and give out a Montreal Canadiens vs Tampa Bay Lightning prediction.

Montreal Canadiens Betting Preview 

The Montreal Canadiens beat the Blackhawks but are coming off losses to the Hurricanes and Panthers. The Montreal Canadiens are averaging 2.74 goals per game and are scoring on 18.4 percent of their power play opportunities. Nick Suzuki leads Montreal with 10 goals, Mike Matheson has 19 assists and Cole Caufield has 122 shots on goal. Defensively, the Montreal Canadiens are allowing 3.37 goals per game and are killing 71.9 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Jake Allen has given up 42 goals on 432 shots faced, and Sam Montembeault has allowed 43 goals on 463 shots.

Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Preview 

The Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Capitals but are coming off losses to the Panthers and Rangers. The Tampa Bay Lightning are averaging 3.24 goals per game and are scoring on 29.7 percent of their power play opportunities. Nikita Kucherov leads Tampa Bay with 25 goals, Victor Hedman has 29 assists and Brayden Point has 100 shots on goal. Defensively, the Tampa Bay Lightning are allowing 3.46 goals per game and are killing 79.6 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Jonas Johansson has given up 67 goals on 613 shots faced, while Andrei Vasilevskiy has allowed 43 goals on 431 shots.

Montreal Canadiens vs Tampa Bay Lightning prediction

The Montreal Canadiens have played some of their best hockey on the road this season, but they’re still hard to trust in these spots, especially against good teams. The Tampa Bay Lightning usually takes care of business on their home ice, and they’ve won 7 of the last 10 meetings against the Habs. I can only side with the Lightning in this spot, and of course I lay the PL to shave down the juice.