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Read Article Canadiens vs. Lightning prediction: Why Tampa Bay is favored to win Tuesday's NHL matchup [4/21/2026]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Nick Slade, Chief Content Officer
Get Montreal Canadiens vs Tampa Bay Lightning predictions for NHL Tuesday.
The Tampa Bay Lightning will square off with the Montreal Canadiens in the 2026 NHL Playoffs at Benchmark International Arena on Tuesday, beginning at 7:00 PM ET.
Based on the latest simulations, Dimers' advanced NHL model projects the Lightning as the most likely winner of the Canadiens vs. Lightning game.
This article offers further insights into Tuesday's matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.
Habs vs. Lightning prediction: Who will win and cover?
Using innovative machine learning and data, we have simulated the result of Tuesday's NHL Playoffs matchup between the Canadiens and Lightning, forming part of our NHL predictions coverage.
Our leading predictive model currently gives the Lightning a 61% chance of defeating the Canadiens.
According to our model, the Canadiens (+1.5) have a 62% chance of covering the puck line, while the over/under total of 5.5 goals has a 56% chance of going over.
Canadiens vs. Lightning odds
We have sourced the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Canadiens | Lightning |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | +1.5 (-155) | -1.5 (+138) |
| Moneyline | +154 | -182 |
| Total | o5.5 (+110) | u5.5 (+106) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Canadiens vs. Lightning picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | Canadiens +1.5 | -155 |
| Moneyline | Canadiens | +154 |
| Total | Over 5.5 | +110 |
According to our NHL best bets, the top play to make on this game is Over 5.5 total goals.
These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.
Canadiens vs. Lightning player props
Who will score a goal in Canadiens vs. Lightning?
According to our model, Nikita Kucherov is most likely to score an anytime goal in Canadiens vs. Lightning.
Our projections give Kucherov a 39.0% chance of scoring a goal at Benchmark International Arena, while the star is an 8.2% chance of netting the first goal the game.
Anytime goal scorer predictions
Montreal Canadiens
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Cole Caufield | 38.3% |
| Ivan Demidov | 29.4% |
| Nick Suzuki | 28.0% |
| Juraj Slafkovsky | 25.2% |
| Alex Newhook | 21.7% |
Tampa Bay Lightning
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Nikita Kucherov | 39.0% |
| Jake Guentzel | 38.8% |
| Brayden Point | 35.6% |
| Brandon Hagel | 33.3% |
| Anthony Cirelli | 27.1% |
First goal scorer predictions
Montreal Canadiens
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Cole Caufield | 7.7% |
| Nick Suzuki | 5.4% |
| Juraj Slafkovsky | 5.0% |
| Ivan Demidov | 4.8% |
| Alex Newhook | 3.9% |
Tampa Bay Lightning
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Nikita Kucherov | 8.2% |
| Jake Guentzel | 7.8% |
| Brayden Point | 6.7% |
| Brandon Hagel | 6.2% |
| Anthony Cirelli | 4.4% |
Habs vs. Lightning game-day updates and essential details
Tuesday's action between the Lightning and Canadiens in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is scheduled to commence at 7:00 PM ET.
- Who: Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
- Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2026
- Time: 7:00 PM ET/4:00PM PT
- Venue: Benchmark International Arena
The Stanley Cup Playoffs is the NHL's postseason elimination tournament to decide the winner of the Stanley Cup.
Sixteen teams, including the Canadiens and Lightning, made the 2026 NHL Playoffs, which includes four rounds: the First Round, Second Round, Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Finals.
Each round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is contested as a best-of-seven series, with the first team to four wins progressing to the next round until a champion is crowned.
Conclusion
We predict the Lightning, with a 61% win probability, will likely beat the Canadiens in Tuesday's NHL matchup.
Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.
Nick Slade, with nearly two decades of experience, is the Chief Content Officer at Cipher Sports Technology Group, overseeing content for Dimers. He specializes in soccer, NBA, and NHL betting, leveraging predictive analytics and machine learning to provide accurate betting insights.
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