ASA 10* NHL Game of the Month
(NHL) Tampa Bay vs. Montreal,
Money Line: 119.00 Montreal (Home)
Result: Loss
ASA NHL TOP PLAY ON 10* Montreal Canadiens Money Line (+120) over Tampa Bay Lightning, Friday at 8 PM ET - Montreal did everything but win on Wednesday! The Canadiens had 43 shots on goal compared to just 23 for the Lightning. Also, Tampa Bay was held to 0 for 3 on the power play as Montreal continued its stellar play on the penalty kill which has helped jettison their improbable playoff run to the Stanley Cup Finals. The only power play goal in the game came from the Canadiens and they were truly relentless in 5 on 5 hockey throughout the game as well. That is what led to the huge edge in shots on goal after Montreal got shell-shocked in Game 1 of the series. Yes, the Canadiens are down 2-0 in this series but the series now shifts to Montreal. The Lightning have lost each of their last two road games in this post-season. Also, the stonewall that is otherwise known as TB goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy seems to have the majority of his sub-par efforts on the road. Vasilevskiy was fantastic on home ice this season and certainly still respectable on the road but his goals against average was nearly a full goal higher (2.63 vs 1.75) in road games compared to home games. The fact that Montreal made some solid adjustments and controlled the game in many aspects Wednesday bodes well for what to expect from them tonight on home ice. 6 times in the regular season the Canadiens entered a game on home ice on a losing streak of at least 2 games. They only had one regulation loss in those 6 games. Of course we expect a solid regulation win here as Montreal enters this home game off back to back losses but if this is a tight game that goes to OT, note that the Canadiens have been great in OT (5-1) in this post-season. Carey Price has allowed 2 or less goals in 6 straight home games in this post-season! Per our computer math model, a solid home win in the forecast here with the projections reflecting another dominating effort (won Game 2 except on the scoreboard!) for the Canadiens as they drop the Lightning to 0-3 last 3 road games in this post-season. Bet Montreal Canadiens (+120)