Tampa Bay Lightning at Montreal Canadiens odds, picks and betting tips

The Tampa Bay Lightning (2-2-1) visit the Montreal Canadiens (2-1-2) Tuesday at Bell Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Here, we break down the Lightning and Canadiens odds and lines, with NHL betting picks and tips.

Lightning at Canadiens: Projected starting goalies

Andrei Vasilevskiy vs. Carey Price

The reigning Vezina Trophy winner has started the year 2-1-0 with a .903 save percentage and a 3.04 goals against average. He has faced more than 30 shots on goal just once while allowing seven goals on 56 total SOG over his last two starts.

Price has a .901 SV% and a 3.38 GAA through four starts. He has allowed at least three goals in each outing while facing between 29 and 43 shots. The Canadiens have twice gone to a shootout with Price going 1-1 in the skills competition.

Lightning at Canadiens: By the numbers

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• The Canadiens have both scored and allowed 21 goals through five games. The Lightning have outscored their opponents 20-17 through five games.
• Tampa Bay won the first three head-to-head meetings last season before dropping the finale 4-2 to Montreal. All four games were decided in regulation.
• The Canadiens went 25-12-4 at home last year, while the Lightning went 30-9-2 on the road.
• Tampa Bay is 2-3 against the spread and 4-1 against the Over/Under. Montreal is 4-1 ATS and 4-0-1 against the O/U.
• Both teams have four power-play goals. The Lightning have had 15 opportunities with the man advantage while the Canadiens have had 16 chances.
• Montreal is 11-for-17 on the penalty kill. Tampa Bay is 13-for-18.

Lightning at Canadiens: Key injuries

Canadiens LW Nick Cousins (lower body) practiced Monday but still hasn't played this season.

Lightning C Cedric Paquette (undisclosed) isn't expected to play Tuesday or Thursday in Boston but should be able to return shortly after.

Lightning at Canadiens: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at Paste BN Sports for a full set of today's betting odds. Odds last updated at 9 a.m. ET.

Moneyline : Back the CANADIENS as home underdogs with +125 odds for the outright win. A $10 bet on Montreal to win in regulation, overtime or a shootout returns a profit of $12.50.

Spread : Stick with the moneyline bet on Montreal rather than laying -208 for the Habs to cover a spread of +1.5. The same $10 bet would fetch a profit of just $4.80 if the Canadiens were to lose by just a single goal or win outright.

Over/under : Roll with the UNDER (6.5, -133) in a battle of two of the league's best goaltenders. It bucks the trend of both teams playing to high scores early in the year.

Esten's NHL betting record: 23-20

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