NHL Expert Pick Habs vs Lightning

The Canadians are riding all the momentum in the world, coming back from a 3-0 deficit against Anaheim to win 4-3 in a shootout. The Habs scored twice in the final 1:30 of the game to tie it before Tomas Plekanec potted home the shootout winner. There was also a very significant goalie change in that game for Montreal, but that’s something we will get to later. The Lightning are still fighting for their playoff lives, and their recent five-game losing streak didn’t help. However, they ended that streak with a bang, smashing the Atlanta Thrashers 6-2 on Saturday. Tampa Bay currently sits in 11th place in the East, four points behind 8th-place Boston and five points behind 7th-place Montreal. A win on the road would be a huge boost to a Tampa Bay team that was not expected to accomplish much at the start of the season.

Tampa Bay Lightning @ Montreal Canadians
Tuesday, March 9th – 7:30 PM EST
Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec
Broadcast: RDS
: Canadians -140

What The Lightning Have To Do To Win:

The continued success of the hottest line in hockey couldn’t hurt. Martin St. Louis, Steven Stamkos and Steve Downie (yes, THAT Steve Downie) have quietly become one of the best trios in all of the NHL. The three played together sparingly at the beginning of the season, but over the past month and a half have skated exclusively with one another. And look at the numbers: St. Louis is enjoying a career resurrection, leading the team with 78 points, including 21 in his last 13 games. Downie looks like the second coming of Sean Avery, currently riding a 10-game point streak and sitting second in the NHL with 184 penalty minutes. Stamkos is single-handily disproving the theory of the sophomore slump. The former Sarnia Sting standout is riding a 16-game point streak, where has amassed an incredible 14 goals and 15 assists. Heatley/Thornton/Marleau who?

What The Canadians Wings Have To Do To Win:

They need to wake up, smell the coffee, and stop fooling themselves into thinking Carey Price is their goaltender of the future. The job belongs to Jaroslav Halak, and the Slovakian should get the bulk of the starts for the rest of the season as well as the playoffs. Price was pulled in Sunday’s game against Anaheim after giving up three goals on 11 shots. Halak came in and stopped all 21 shots he faced in regulation and overtime, pacing the Habs in their wild comeback win over the Ducks. Price was brilliant in his rookie year for Montreal, but has been a shell of his former self since. Halak has been a rock in the net for two years, and proved he could handle pressure situations with an impressive Olympic showing in Vancouver. Montreal has to start playing Halak more frequently if they want to make a serious postseason run.

Outlook & Pick

Montreal is expected to play Halak, so their chances of winning has increased. The health of Martin St. Louis will be an issue for the Lightning. St. Louis was rocked into the boards in Tampa’s win over Atlanta last weekend, and although he is expected to play the team will be cautious with him. The Canadians are coming off one of their biggest wins of the season, and are playing a Lightning team with a less than stellar record on the road (9-18-5). The momentum from their comeback, coupled with the home advantage, should be enough for Montreal.

NHL Expert Pick: Canadians -140