Tampa Bay Lightning vs Montreal Canadiens Betting Pick & Prediction for 4/24

bangthebook nhl game preview

The NHL playoffs continue with Game 3 between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Montreal Canadiens. The series is tied 1-1, making this game important for both teams. Fans will gather at the Bell Centre on Friday, April 24, 2026, at 7:00 PM to see who takes the lead in the series.

The Tampa Bay Lightning, led by head coach Jon Cooper, finished the regular season with a 50-32-0 record. They are ranked 3rd in the Eastern Conference and 2nd in the Atlantic Division. The Montreal Canadiens, under head coach Martin St. Louis, have a regular season record of 48-34-0. They hold the 4th spot in the Eastern Conference and 3rd in the Atlantic Division.

Lightning vs Canadiens Game Day Info

  • Sport: NHL
  • Teams: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens
  • Venue: Bell Centre
  • Date: Friday, April 24, 2026
  • Betting Odds:
    • Tampa Bay Lightning Puck Line: -1.5 (+208)
    • Montreal Canadiens Puck Line: +1.5 (-260)
    • Tampa Bay Lightning MoneyLine: -116
    • Montreal Canadiens MoneyLine: -101
    • Over: 5.5 (-133)
    • Under: 5.5 (+108)

Tampa Bay Lightning Team Preview

The Tampa Bay Lightning are gearing up for their next game. They recently had a close win against the Montreal Canadiens with a score of 3-2. This victory came after a tight 4-3 loss to the same team.

Brandon Hagel has been a key player for the Lightning. He scored three goals and provided one assist in the postseason so far. Nikita Kucherov and Jake Guentzel have also contributed with multiple points in these games.

The Lightning’s regular season stats show their strength in scoring. They ranked fourth in goals with 286 and second in assists with 502. However, their faceoff performance and blocking numbers were among the lowest in the league.

Montreal Canadiens Team Preview

The Montreal Canadiens had a strong regular season. They ranked 7th in goals with 279 and 4th in assists with 481. Their defense also performed well, leading the league in blocks with 1331.

In the postseason, the Canadiens have had mixed results. They won their first game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-3. However, they lost the second game by a close score of 2-3.

Key players for the Canadiens include Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. Suzuki had 101 points in the regular season, and Caufield scored 51 goals. Jakub Dobes is the starting goalie, with 51 saves in the postseason so far.

BTB Betting Pick

The Tampa Bay Lightning are favored with a MoneyLine of -116 against the Montreal Canadiens. Despite Tampa Bay’s strong regular season stats, Montreal won their first postseason game. Given Montreal’s momentum and similar postseason performance, the pick is the Montreal Canadiens to win at -101.

The current over/under line is set at 5.5 with the over at -133 and the under at +108. Both teams have demonstrated scoring ability, with Tampa Bay ranking 4th in goals and Montreal 7th. Considering this, the pick is the over 5.5 goals.