Canadiens vs Lightning Picks and Prediction – 12/29/2024

On Sunday, the Montreal Canadiens (14-17-3) face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning (19-11-2) at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. Make sure you stay up to date with all the NHL action, with our expert NHL picks.

Tampa Bay comes into this matchup on a one-game winning streak and has won four of their last five games prior to their game against the New York Rangers. In their dominant 4-0 victory against the Florida Panthers, Anthony Cirelli stood out for the Tampa Bay Lightning by providing two key assists. This season, Nikita Kucherov has been a pivotal player for the team, leading the scoring charts with an impressive 50 points. Close behind are Brandon Hagel and Brayden Point, both tied as the team's second-highest scorers with 39 points each. Brayden Point also tops the goal-scoring list for the Lightning, having netted 22 goals so far. Meanwhile, Kucherov is also the leading playmaker, having accumulated 35 assists. Over the last five games, Tampa Bay has been on fire offensively, averaging 3.8 goals per game, which has helped them secure fourth place in the Atlantic Division standings. As they prepare for an essential divisional matchup on home ice, the Lightning aim to maintain their winning momentum. On the whole, the team boasts an impressive average of 3.9 goals per game this season.

Montreal enters this game on a one-game losing streak, but has won three of their last five games prior to their game against Florida. In a close 5-4 defeat against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Jake Evans managed to find the back of the net for the Montreal Canadiens. So far in the season, Nick Suzuki has emerged as the top point scorer for the Canadiens, amassing a total of 35 points. Trailing closely behind him is Cole Caufield, who has accumulated 32 points, making him the team's second-highest point scorer this year. Notably, Caufield leads the team in goals, with an impressive tally of 17. Meanwhile, both Nick Suzuki and Lane Hutson have proven to be key playmakers, each contributing 24 assists over the course of the season. In their last five games, the Canadiens have been able to score an average of 4.2 goals per match. However, despite their offensive efforts, they currently are in sixth place in the Atlantic Division standings. The team is determined to break free from their current losing streak and aim for a consistent run of victories. On average, the Canadiens manage to score around 2.9 goals per game throughout the season.

Tampa Bay aims to demonstrate their strong performance at home when they play host to the Montreal Canadiens. Montreal has struggled to find success in away games, and they are eager to turn things around by boosting their offensive efforts. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay's offensive line has been impressive this season, and they plan to continue showcasing their high-scoring capabilities in this matchup. Final Score Prediction, Tampa Bay Lightning win 4-2.