NHL: Lightning vs. Canadiens Game 3 Picks and Odds | April 24, 2026
Written by: Nick Zanghi
Published: Fri Apr 24, 2026, 8:14 am ET
Read Time: 5 minutes
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We have a great series on our hands out of the Atlantic after two games. The Tampa Bay Lightning will now head up to Canada to continue their series vs. the Montreal Canadiens. Both games of this series have gone to overtime, and the Lightning took Game 2.
Montreal has been playing great so far. They went 48-24-10 this season and finished third in the Atlantic. They took the loss last game in Tampa but were able to steal the first game and that's most important.
Their offense played well in Game 2 but was nowhere to be found in overtime. The Canadiens outshot the Lightning in regulation but were outshot 9-0 in overtime. In the just about 13 minutes played in overtime, Montreal only had two shot attempts.
On defense, they played well even after allowing the first goal in the first period. Montreal matched Tampa and tied it up 1-1 at the end of the first after a power play goal from Lane Hutson. They were able to hold them until the 12-minute mark of the third period where Nikita Kucherov tied the game to force OT.
Goalie Jakub Dobes is expected to get the start. He went 29-10-4 this season and is 1-1 in the playoffs so far. Dobe will look to continue his fantastic performance from the regular season again tonight in Florida.
Check out the odds for this matchup and other NHL games at the best online sportsbooks.
Tampa will need to get one in Montreal after losing one at home
Tampa Bay Lightning players celebrate after scoring a goal in Game 2 vs. the Canadiens.
It was a big win for Tampa last game. Having to go on the road down 0-2 in a series would've been close to impossible to recover from. This team is resilient and has plenty of playoff experience on their team, so never count them out.
Guys like Nikita Kucherov and Darren Raddysh both have been firing the puck. The Lightning needs both of them and guys like Jake Guentzel to produce the offense for the team. Players like Anthony Cirelli and Brandon Hagel have key roles in this offense as well.
On defense, it's been a back and forth. Allowing 2-3 goals per game isn't sustainable, but if you're putting up the offense, it can be manageable. Having one of, if not the, best goalie in the game is usually an X factor.
In net, we're expected to see Andrei Vasilevskiy in net. Vasi is the most likely winner of the Vezina Trophy for this season and although hasn't looked terrible, has allowed a fair number of goals. Let's check out the odds and get into the Lightning vs. Canadiens Game 3 picks.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens Betting Odds and Game Information
Lightning vs. Canadiens Betting Odds – April 24
| Team | Puck Line | Moneyline | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Lightning | -1.5 (+200) | -120 | Over 5.5 (-130) |
| Montreal Canadiens | +1.5 (-275) | +100 | Under 5.5 (+110) |
Odds courtesy of Lucky Rebel – Get a $1,250 deposit bonus & 50 Slot Spins when you sign up
Lightning vs. Canadiens Game Information
- Venue: Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
- Date: Friday April 24, 2026
- Puck Drop: 7 p.m. EST
- TV: TNT, TruTV, HBO Max, TVAS, The Spot. CBC
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens Picks and Prediction
Lightning forward Anthony Cirelli celebrates as they score on Canadiens goalie Jakub Dobes.
Lightning vs. Canadiens Picks and Predictions: Game Total Over 5.5 Goals (-130) Get a $1,250 deposit bonus & 50 Slot Spins when you sign up with Lucky Rebel
Well, the last game was straight cinema. What an overtime performance from the Lightning after a somewhat slow game. Tonight, we see the offense come back at full speed and this game is going over.
Game 1 already went over so we know it's doable even with very good goaltending on both sides. I think we see more of a game like that one where there's a lot of scoring and a lot of back and forth. I definitely lean with the Canadiens to win this game to protect that game they won in Tampa.
Give me Nikita Kucherov to get 4 or more shots on goal. Kuch has been doing what he does best – firing the puck and forcing games to OT to win. He's had 5 shots on goal in each of the two games this series as well and that's not going to change.
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Nick Zanghi
Nick Zanghi is an avid hockey fan who loves to bet on the NHL Props. He has also found a liking for the WNBA. Born and raised on LI, NZ is a lifelong Islanders #isles fan and a new NY Liberty fan #LIGHTITUPNYL. When not watching or attending sporting events, he enjoys grilling and time with his wife and kids.
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