Tampa Bay Lightning vs Montreal Canadiens Prediction, 4/9/2026 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Tampa Bay Lightning vs Montreal Canadiens

Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026

Location: Bell Centre in Montreal, QC

TV: TSN2

Bell Centre is the location where the Montreal Canadiens (45-22-10) will try to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning (48-22-6) on Thursday.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will need a bounce back game after taking a 4-2 loss to the Sabres their last time out. The Lightning could have played much better offensively in this defeat. In the outing, they tallied a score on 2 of the 25 shots they put on goal. In addition, they had 5 attempts on the power play and notched 1 goal. Tampa Bay recorded 12 mins in the box in this matchup.

Tampa Bay Lightning opponents have tallied 237 power play opportunities (5th in the league) and have a total of 42 goals in those chances. The Lightning have had 2,033 shots tried against them and have earned a save percentage of .897. Tampa Bay has tried 2,155 shots and has a shooting percentage of 12.7%. When playing at even strength, the Lightning have allowed 167 goals while earning 223 themselves. Tampa Bay has compiled 230 power play chances and they have added 50 goals during those advantages, giving them a rate of 21.74%. For the year, they have accumulated 102 points and their points percentage is sitting at .671. In relation to their goal scoring prowess, the Tampa Bay Lightning have earned 273 goals (3rd in pro hockey) this year and have allowed 209.

Protecting the goal for this matchup will be Andrei Vasilevskiy. Opponents have racked up 1,458 goals versus Vasilevskiy in his NHL career and his goals against average is 2.50. Vasilevskiy has been in net for 594 contests throughout his NHL career. He has a save percentage of .917 during his 28,753 minutes played. He has earned a mark of 368-176-39 and he has gotten the start in 584 games. From the beginning of his pro career to now, Vasilevskiy has tallied 344 quality starts and his quality starts percentage sits at .589. Vasilevskiy has seen 17,488 shots against him and he has 16,030 saves.

In their last contest, Montreal played the Devils in a game where the Canadiens took a loss by a score of 3-0. They had 4 power play attempts in this matchup but weren't able to notch a goal. The Canadiens earned 0 goals of the 18 shots on goal they attempted.

So far this year, the Montreal Canadiens have earned a total of 266 goals, 100 points, in addition to a points percentage of .649. They have granted a total of 237 goals to be scored by way of 184 goals at even strength and 53 goals while they were shorthanded. The Canadiens have scored 213 goals at even strength and 53 goals (9th in professional hockey) while on the power play. They have earned 222 power play chances and they have accumulated a power play rate of 23.87%. Montreal has tried 2,030 shots (23rd in the league) and has earned a shot percentage of 13.10%, while allowing the other team 2,141 shots. They have accumulated a penalty kill rate of 77.54% on the other teams 236 power play chances, and their save percentage currently sits at 88.9%.

On the other side of the ice you are going to see Jakub Dobes in net. He has tallied 1,374 stops out of 1,518 shots tried, which gives him a rate of .905. Dobes has amassed a career mark of 34-12-7 and has been in net for 55 games. He has been a starter 53 contests and has played 943 mins. Dobes' rate of quality starts comes out to 62.3% and he has earned 33 quality starts in his pro career. Opponents are averaging 2.72 goals/game and he has allowed 144 goals in total.

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

Parlays Pundit's Pick: Take Montreal

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