Tampa Bay Lightning vs Montreal Canadiens Prediction, 12/9/2025 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Tampa Bay Lightning vs Montreal Canadiens

Date: Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Location: Bell Centre in Montreal, QC

TV: TSN2

Odds/Point Spread: Lightning (-130) Canadiens (+110)

Bell Centre is the location where the Montreal Canadiens (15-10-3) will attempt to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning (16-10-2) on Tuesday. The odds on this game have Tampa Bay at -130 and Montreal is priced at +110. The total is 6.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will be looking to get a win in their next outing after their 2-0 defeat to the Islanders their last time on the ice. The Lightning could have played much better offensively in the defeat. In the game, they ended the night with no scores out of the 32 shots they looked to score on. Additionally, they had 2 chances on the power play but didn't get a goal. Tampa Bay accumulated 6 minutes in the box for this game.

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Tampa Bay Lightning opponents have tallied 90 power play opportunities (11th in hockey) and have scored 12 goals in those chances. The Lightning have had 762 shots taken against them and hold a save percentage of .904. Tampa Bay has tried 766 shots and holds a shot percentage of 11.5%. While playing at even strength, the Lightning let the opposition score 61 goals while having 74 when they are on offense. Tampa Bay is sitting with 88 power play opportunities and they have notched 14 goals out of those chances, garnering them a percentage of 15.91%. For the current campaign, they have scored 34 points and their points % is .607. In regard to their goal scoring prowess, the Tampa Bay Lightning have tallied 88 goals (12th in the National Hockey League) on the year and have surrendered 73.

The man protecting the goal in this game is Jonas Johansson. The opposition has racked up 266 goals versus Johansson in his NHL career and his goals against rate is 3.37. Johansson has been involved in 90 games during his NHL career. His save percentage sits at .890 for his 4,263 minutes on the ice. He has amassed a record of 37-30-12 and he has started in 79 games. Over the course of his pro career, Johansson has accounted for 36 quality starts and his rate for quality starts is .456. Johansson has seen 2,423 shots taken against him and has recorded 2,157 saves.

Their last time out, Montreal faced the Blues in a game where the Canadiens ended up losing by a score of 4-3. They had 2 power play opportunities in this game but weren't able to put one in the back of the net. The Canadiens recorded 3 goals of the 26 shots on goal they tried.

Montreal has taken 708 shots (30th in pro hockey) and has a shooting percentage of 12.71%, while allowing their opponents 763 shots. They have a penalty kill rate of 77.53% on their oppositions 89 power play tries, and their save percentage is currently 87.3%. They have recorded 78 chances on the power play and they have earned a power play rate of 25.64%. The Canadiens have accumulated 70 goals at even strength and 20 goals (9th in professional hockey) while on the power play. They have permitted 97 goals to be scored by of a combination of 77 goals at even strength and 20 goals while they had less men on the ice. So far this year, the Montreal Canadiens have a total of 90 goals, 33 points, in addition to a points percentage of .589.

Across the rink you are likely to see Sam Montembeault between the pipes. Montembeault holds a career record of 85-90-29 and has participated in 220 games. Montembeault's quality start rate is 51.7% and he has accumulated 104 quality starts in his pro career. He has recorded 5,760 saves out of the 6,423 shots taken against him, giving him a rate of .897. His opponents are averaging 3.30 goals per contest and he has surrendered 663 goals in total. He has been a starter 201 contests and his ice time sits at 10,950 mins.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Tony's Pick: Take Tampa Bay (-130)

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