We’re going back to the frozen pond for an NHL Same Game Parlay on Tuesday’s eight-game slate. Last week’s NHL SGP was a complete disaster, as Boston routed Tampa Bay 6-2 on home ice. Even the first leg, which was betting on no goal to be scored in the first five minutes, failed to hit, while Tampa Bay’s four-goal loss ruined under 6.5 total goals and the Lightning +2.5 alternate puck line.
I’m back with a brand-new NHL Same Game Parlay bet to tail, worth one unit, ahead of tonight’s opening puck drop between the Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens. Follow me on X at Matt_MacKay_ for more NHL free bets and weekly analysis.
Tuesday's NHL SGP: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Tampa Bay Lightning (-146) vs. Montreal Canadiens (+122) | O/U 6.5 (+104/-128)
Under 7.5 Alternate Total Goals (-320)
I’m going to start with buying a goal at under 7.5 in the alternate total goals betting market. Canadiens goaltender, Sam Montembeault, has been confirmed as the starter ahead of tonight’s home matchup against the Lightning. Montembeault is 16-16-3 as a starter this season, going 2-1-1 in his last four starts. During this stretch, Montreal’s primary goaltender has fluctuated his performances, holding Dallas and Utah to four combined goals, while giving up four to Vancouver in a win, and six to Toronto in a lopsided 7-3 home loss.
Andrei Vasilevskiy is expected to get the start for Tampa Bay after resting against Toronto on Monday night. Vasilevskiy is definitely the better netminder in this game but he’s been a bit shaky lately, allowing three or more goals in three of his past four starts, which came against New Jersey, Boston, and Anaheim.
The last time these two teams met, Montreal won 5-2 on the road in Tampa Bay back in late December. The Lightning have been held to three or fewer goals in three of its last six games, while Montreal has scored three or fewer goals in four of their last six matchups.
This leg ultimately comes down to the goaltenders, especially Montembeault, who can be shaky in the crease. If he turns in a similar performance to their first meeting, stopping 21 of 23 shots, then we should be in a great spot to advance to the second leg of this NHL Same Game Parlay.
Montreal Canadiens +1.5 Alternate Puck Line (-215)
Montreal’s been a covering machine this season. The Canadiens are 28-18 on the puck line, losing by one or fewer goals in seven of their last eight games played. The return of Patrik Laine has given the Canadiens a huge boost offensively, as they rank 12th in goals per game (3.0), while still sitting 29th in shots on goal.
Tampa Bay is in a bit of a slump right now. The Lightning are 3-3 SU in their last six games played and have only beaten Montreal by two or more goals once in their last four head-to-head matchups. Let’s insert Montreal +1.5 as home underdogs against an inconsistent Tampa Bay offense on Monday night.
NHL SGP (-112)
We’ve got -112 odds on a two-leg NHL Same Game Parlay between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens are playing their best hockey of the season right now, which is why I like them to cover +1.5 as home underdogs, winning six of their last eight games outright.
I bought up a goal and went under 7.5 total goals for the other leg. Oddsmakers have set the total to 6.5, implying they expect a high-scoring affair, which could wind up happening. However, I expect a better outing from Montembeault for Montreal after allowing six goals in his last start against the Maple Leafs. As long as Vasilevskiy is in the crease for Tampa Bay, he’s going to help keep us under 7.5 total goals.
Let’s bet a unit on Montreal to play well enough against Tampa Bay as home underdogs to cover +1.5, while going under 7.5 total goals, after beating the Lightning 5-2 on the road a few weeks ago.
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Matthew MacKay is a featured writer for BettingPros and FantasyPros. For more from Matthew, check out his archive and follow him @Matt_MacKay_.