Tampa Bay Lightning vs Montreal Canadiens Betting Pick & Prediction for 12/9

bangthebook nhl game preview

The NHL regular season continues as the Tampa Bay Lightning visit the Montreal Canadiens. The game takes place at the Bell Centre on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 7:00 PM. Fans can catch the action on ESPN+.

Tampa Bay holds a record of 16-11-2 and ranks second in the Eastern Atlantic Division. Montreal, with a 15-10-3 record, stands fourth in the same division. Both teams look to improve their standings in this Eastern Conference battle.

Lightning vs Canadiens Game Day Info

  • Sport: NHL
  • Teams: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens
  • Venue: Bell Centre
  • Date: Tuesday, December 9, 2025
  • Betting Odds: Montreal Canadiens MoneyLine -119, Tampa Bay Lightning MoneyLine -101

Tampa Bay Lightning Team Preview

The Tampa Bay Lightning have had a challenging stretch of games. They lost their last game against the Toronto Maple Leafs with a score of 2-0. The Lightning struggled offensively, failing to score any goals despite 29 shots on goal.

In their previous game, the Lightning faced the New York Islanders at home and lost 2-0. They managed 32 shots on goal but couldn’t find the back of the net. Defense was also an issue, with only 10 blocks recorded against the Islanders.

One of their recent performances saw a close game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, ending in a 4-3 loss. Brandon Hagel and Nikita Kucherov led the team with goals and assists. The team showed offensive effort with 40 shots on goal but couldn’t secure a win.

Montreal Canadiens Team Preview

The Montreal Canadiens have had mixed results in their recent games. They lost 4-3 to the St. Louis Blues in their last game. Cole Caufield, Noah Dobson, and Lane Hutson each scored a goal in that game.

In the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Canadiens secured a 2-1 win. Cole Caufield stood out with a goal, while Sam Montembeault was solid in the net. The Canadiens managed 34 shots on goal and scored one power-play goal.

Earlier, the Canadiens defeated the Winnipeg Jets 3-2. Ivan Demidov contributed with an assist, and Oliver Kapanen scored a goal. The team showed strong defensive play with 19 blocks and 25 hits.

BTB Betting Pick

For the moneyline pick, take the Montreal Canadiens at -119. They are the favorites and have a slight edge in skater stats, with more goals and assists. The projected score is Montreal 4, Tampa Bay 3, suggesting a close game but a win for Montreal.

For the over/under pick, go with the under 6.5 at -123. Both teams have shown solid goaltending, with Montreal ranked 17th in goals against. The projected total score is 7, but considering the defensive stats, betting on under looks safer.