The Tampa Bay Lightning will visit the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night in a highly anticipated matchup. Both teams have had a strong start to the season, with the Lightning currently sitting at the top of the Central Division, while the Canadiens are holding their own in the highly competitive North Division. Both teams will be looking to secure a win to continue their momentum going forward. Stick around, as we dive deeper into this exciting Preview of the Tampa Bay Lightning vs Montreal Canadiens matchup.
Preview: Tampa Bay Lightning at Montreal
The Tampa Bay Lightning will be traveling to the Bell Centre to face the Montreal Canadiens for their first regular-season meeting of the season. The Lightning is sitting comfortably at the top of the Central Division with a record of 31-14-2. They are just behind the Florida Panthers in the playoff race, and the Canadiens sit at the bottom of the North Division with a record of 19-21-9.
Lightning Look to Continue Dominance
The Lightning has had a tremendous season, and they look to continue dominating their opponents on both ends of the ice. They are currently fifth in the league in goals scored (140) and third in the league in goals against (105). They have also been dominant on their road games, with a record of 15-6-0. Their power play is one of the best in the league, with a 25.3% scoring percentage, and their penalty killing is fourth in the league, with a 84.6% success rate.
The key players to watch on Tampa Bay Lightning include Brayden Point, Steven Stamkos, and Nikita Kucherov. The Lightning has one of the most complete teams in the league, and they can beat their opponents in many different ways.
Canadiens Looking to End Losing Streak
The Montreal Canadiens have struggled this season, and they have lost their last three games. They are currently in the bottom of the North Division, and they are one of the worst teams in the league in terms of goals scored (116). Their power play and penalty killing stats are also not good, with a scoring percentage of 19.4% and a success rate of 77.4%, respectively.
The Canadiens has several talented players on their roster, including Tyler Toffoli, Jeff Petry, and Jonathan Drouin. However, their scoring depth and defensive structure has been an issue for them this season. They will have to improve in these areas if they want to compete with a team like the Lightning.
Final Thoughts
The Tampa Bay Lightning is the heavy favorite to win this game. They have a better roster, more experience, and they are one of the best teams in the league. The Montreal Canadiens, on the other hand, will have to play their best game of the season to beat the Lightning. They will have to improve in all areas of the game, especially in their offensive and defensive play.
Overall, this game promises to be an exciting one. The Lightning has been dominant this season, but the Canadiens are not a team to be taken lightly. If Montreal can play their best game and catch the Lightning off guard, they could pull off an upset. However, it will take a lot of effort, focus, and determination from the Canadiens to beat the Lightning.