PREMIUM
The Coach's *10* NHL SURE SHOT!
(NHL) Tampa Bay vs. Montreal,
Money Line: -122.00 Montreal (Home)
Result: Loss
Money Line: -122.00 Montreal (Home)
Result: Loss
The Tampa Bay Lightning have dominated the Montreal Canadiens in previous meetings this season and can complete the five game sweep of the series with another win in Montreal tonight. They've struggled of late though coming off back-to-back losses, and this should be a good spot for the Habs to show why they're the ones sitting top of the Eastern Conference, three points above the Lightning in third.
Here are my keys to the game:
1. Big Ben's Recent Struggles - Ben Bishop has taken the loss in each game of the Lightning's current two game skid, allowing a combined six goals on 33 shots. He's a mediocre 11-7-3 with a 2.66 GAA away from home and will have to deal with a Canadiens power play that went 2-for-4 in the win against the Panthers Saturday.
2. Road Woes - The Lightning have won only one of their last five away from home, a 1-0 OT victory here at Bell Centre on March 10. They opened a five game road trip by being blanked in a 4-0 loss at Detroit Saturday, and will travel to Toronto straight right after this contest for a game against the Maple Leafs tomorrow.
3. X-Factor - Steven Stamkos is leading the Lightning with his 67 points on the season, two more than the Habs point-best Max Pacioretty. It's Pacioretty who's been hot of late though, registering five points over his last five games while Stamkos has failed to register a single one over his last four appearances.
Selection: This is a play on the Montreal Canadiens (10*)
Here are my keys to the game:
1. Big Ben's Recent Struggles - Ben Bishop has taken the loss in each game of the Lightning's current two game skid, allowing a combined six goals on 33 shots. He's a mediocre 11-7-3 with a 2.66 GAA away from home and will have to deal with a Canadiens power play that went 2-for-4 in the win against the Panthers Saturday.
2. Road Woes - The Lightning have won only one of their last five away from home, a 1-0 OT victory here at Bell Centre on March 10. They opened a five game road trip by being blanked in a 4-0 loss at Detroit Saturday, and will travel to Toronto straight right after this contest for a game against the Maple Leafs tomorrow.
3. X-Factor - Steven Stamkos is leading the Lightning with his 67 points on the season, two more than the Habs point-best Max Pacioretty. It's Pacioretty who's been hot of late though, registering five points over his last five games while Stamkos has failed to register a single one over his last four appearances.
Selection: This is a play on the Montreal Canadiens (10*)