Canadiens vs. Lightning Game 2 picks: Tampa Bay should alleviate home Stanley Cup Playoff woes Tuesday

CBS Sports Headlines3h ago5 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

Tampa Bay Lightning face a crucial Game 2 against the Montreal Canadiens after losing Game 1 at home. The game is set for 7 PM ET on ESPN2.

Key points

Tampa Bay Lightning lost Game 1 at home
Game 2 is on Tuesday at 7 PM ET
Matchup is between Canadiens and Lightning
Recommended betting picks include Lightning Money Line
Game 2 is part of the Stanley Cup Playoffs

Montreal CanadiensTampa Bay LightningStanley Cup Playoffs

USATSI

In my humble opinion, the most evenly matched first-round Stanley Cup playoff series is the Eastern Conference matchup featuring the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa Bay was upset in Game 1 at home, and that puts the Bolts squarely in something of a desperation spot on Tuesday. I always like to attack these scenarios in the postseason. It's a 7 ET puck drop on ESPN2 for Game 2.

Canadiens vs. Lightning same-game parlay (-120)

Lightning Money Line
Alt Over 4.5

I expect Ducks-Oilers to be the highest-scoring series overall in the first round, but this should be No. 2. It lived up to that in the opener with Montreal winning a really entertaining back-and-forth 4-3 affair in overtime. There were a few lead changes, with the last coming via Juraj Slafkovsky's third goal of the game at 1:22 of overtime. He's now scored seven goals against the Lightning in five games this season.

That winner was on the power play; you won't see too many power plays in playoff overtimes as referees let the skaters play as much as possible. But a high-sticking penalty was called on Tampa Bay's Jake Guentzel late in the third period carried a power play into OT.

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Slafkovsky, from Slovakia, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 draft but hadn't lived up to that until this season when he finished with a career-high 30 goals and 73 points. He kept that form up in Game 1 with his hat trick. Slafkovsky became the first Montreal player to score three goals – including one in overtime – in a playoff game since Eric Desjardins in 1993 in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals. That was the first hat trick by a defenseman in a Finals. Slafkovsky is +7000 for another hat trick on Tuesday.

Q&A

What time is the Canadiens vs. Lightning Game 2?

Game 2 between the Canadiens and Lightning is scheduled for 7 PM ET.

How did the Lightning perform in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs?

The Tampa Bay Lightning were upset in Game 1 at home against the Montreal Canadiens.

What are the betting picks for Canadiens vs. Lightning Game 2?

The recommended picks include Lightning Money Line and Alt Over 4.5.

Why is Game 2 crucial for the Tampa Bay Lightning?

Game 2 is crucial for the Lightning as they are in a desperate situation after losing Game 1 at home.