NHL: Canadiens vs. Lightning Game 1 Picks and Odds | April 19, 2026
Written by: Nick Zanghi
Published: Sun Apr 19, 2026, 11:45 am ET
Read Time: 5 minutes
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Welcome back to the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. We have game 1 of the Montreal Canadiens vs. the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Canadiens won the season series 2-1-1 this year, but we have a whole new series on our hands.
Montreal went 48-24-10 this season and finished third in the Atlantic Division. They finished the season off a loss to the Flyers on Tuesday. The Habs finished their last their last ten games 7-3-0 and were 24-9-8 on the road.
What a season it's been for the Canadiens and right in the playoffs is where they belong. They didn't get dealt an easy card for the first round, but almost any opponent would've been challenge with how good the teams were this season.
Their offense played great this season, ranking in the top ten of the league for goals scored, power play conversion and had the second-best shooting percentage. Montreal doesn't shoot the puck much, but they make it count when they do. They're going to need to do a better job on defense vs. this dangerous Tampa offense.
Goalie Jakub Dobes is expected to get the start. He went 29-10-4 this season with a 2.78 GAA and a .901 save percentage. Dobes has been fantastic in his first year as the starter for the team.
Check out the odds for this matchup and other NHL games at the best online sportsbooks.
Tampa Bay quietly killed it all year and ready to get down to business
Lightning forward Corey Perry goes after Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson.
The Lightning were 50-26-6 this year and finished second in the Atlantic Division. They finished the year off a loss to the Rangers on Wednesday. Tampa Bay went 5-5-0 in their last ten games and were 26-14-1 at home.
Tampa is no stranger to the playoffs. They bring tons of experience to the table and should never be slept on. The Bolts hung in there all season offensively, scoring the fourth most goals per game in the league. Like the Canadiens, they shoot well, ranking third in shooting percentage.
On defense, they're a tough team to play. They rank in the top ten for goals allowed and shots on goal allowed per game. Tampa committed the most penalties per game this regular season but backed it up with the third best penalty kill.
In net, we're expected to see Andrei Vasilevskiy. He went 39-15-4 this season with a 2.31 GAA and a .912 save percentage. Vasi is most likely this year's Vezina Trophy winner. Let's check out the odds and get into the Canadiens vs. Lightning picks.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Odds and Game Information
Canadiens vs. Lightning Betting Odds – April 19
| Team | Puck Line | Moneyline | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal Canadiens | +1.5 (-155) | +160 | Over 5.5 (-145) |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | -1.5 (+130) | -190 | Under 5.5 (+120) |
Odds courtesy of Lucky Rebel – Get a $1,250 deposit bonus & 50 Slot Spins when you sign up
Canadiens vs. Lightning Game Information
- Venue: Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, FL
- Date: Sunday April 19, 2026
- Puck Drop: 5:45 p.m. EST
- TV: TNT, TruTV, HBO Max, TVAS, The Spot
Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Picks and Prediction
Canadiens forward Cole Caufield scores a goal on Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy during a regular season game.
Canadiens vs. Lightning Picks and Predictions: Game Total Over 5.5 Goals (-145) Get a $1,250 deposit bonus & 50 Slot Spins when you sign up with Lucky Rebel
Like yesterday, I only have a lean and that's with the Lightning to take the first one at home. For the POD, we're taking the over even though it is juiced. Both teams have shown they can get to each other's goalies and we'll see that today.
Guys like Cole Caufield and Nikita Kucherov ended the season completely buzzing and are going to motivate their teams. Montreal getting to the Tampa defense will be the key to this over and I think they're able to again.
I'm going to be a square and take Caufield to get 4 or more shots on goal. He's coming off a game with 10 shots on goal and played well last game vs. Tampa. He hit the shots line and scored goal with an apple to go along with it.
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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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