Habs Break Serve in Overtime Against Bolts
The Montreal Canadiens have won more Stanley Cups than any other team. But they last won it in 1993 which is by far their longest drought. This year’s playoff run is off to a good start though as they went on the road in Game One of their series with the Tampa Bay Lightning and won 5-4 in overtime. This means if they can win their three home games in the series they will win it in six games. Then it will be on to the Eastern Conference semifinals for hockey’s most storied franchise.
On Wednesday, they got the win when Dale Weiss scored 18:08 into the overtime period. The two teams went back and forth all night in an exciting game that saw them tied 1-1 after the first period, 2-2 after the second and 4-4 after the third. Tampa Bay got on the board fist when Nikita Kucherov scored at the 10:09 mark. The Habs though struck back quickly when Tomas Plekanec scored 19 seconds later to tie the game back up. Steven Stamkos scored his first of two goals at 13:24 of the second period. That lead was also short lived as the Canadiens answered back at 16:39 with a Brian Gionta goal.The two teams kept trading goals in the third period also with Montreal striking first at the 5:10 mark on a Lars Eller score, but the Bolts quickly answered at 7:11 when Alex Killorn lit the lamp. The Habs took a 4-3 lead at 11:30 on a Thomas Vanek score but Stamkos tied it 4-4 when he scored his second of the game at 13:27.
The fact that these two played such a tight game should come as no surprise. The only difference in the records after 82 games between these two teams is the Lightning had one more overtime loss among their losses than Montreal. Both had the same number of wins. So can the Lightning win Game Two and then get a split on the road? One would think so.
Tonight the two meat again at the Tampa Bay Times Forum for Game Two.
Bovada has the odds for tonight’s NHL Playoff games:
Montreal at Tampa Bay– Montreal is +1.5 -330 and Tampa Bay is -1.5 +255 ATS. Moneyline is Montreal -110 and Tampa Bay -120. This is almost a pick’em game so we’ll take the Habs +1.5 -330.
Detroit at Boston– This is Game One of the series at the new Boston Garden. The Bruins won the President’s Trophy for having the best record in the NHL during the regular season therefore gaining the Eastern Conference #1 seed. They will have home ice advantage as long as they stay in the playoffs. The red Wings are +1.5 -175 and the Bruins are -1.5 +145 ATS. Moneyline is Detroit +170 and Boston -210. We will go with Boston -1.5 +145 as we think they can win by two or more.
Dallas at Anaheim– Dallas is down 1-0 in this one. The Stars are +1.5 -180 and the Ducks are -1.5 +150 ATS. Moneyline is Dallas +145 and Anaheim -175. We are going with Anaheim -175. The Stars will put up a fight as they can ill afford to go down 2-0, but in the end the Ducks prevail at home.
