The 2026 NHL playoffs continue with Game 3 between the Montreal Canadiens and the Tampa Bay Lightning. The series is tied 1-1.
Montreal upset Tampa Bay on the road in Game 1. Tampa Bay then pushed the Canadiens to the brink in Game 2 before J.J. Moser scored in overtime to secure the win.
Game 3 Odds and Predictions
Game 3 takes place at the Bell Centre in Montreal. The Lightning are the -121 favourites. The over/under for total goals scored is 6.
The SportsLine Projection Model has simulated the game 10,000 times. The model is profitable on top-rated NHL picks this season, including a +550 return on top-rated money-line picks.
The model has revealed its NHL picks and betting predictions.
SportsLine Model’s Projections
After 10,000 simulations, SportsLine’s model is going Over on the total (6). The Over has hit in seven of the last 11 head-to-head meetings between the teams. This includes Game 1 of this series when the teams combined for seven goals.
The SportsLine model is projecting Cole Caufield to record .56 goals and .45 assists. Jakub Dobes is projected to make 22.3 saves and allow 2.98 goals. Nikita Kucherov is projected to score 0.51 goals and 1.03 assists. Andrei Vasilevskiy will make 19.6 saves and allow 2.92 goals.
The model projects 6.1 combined goals between the teams.
Key Game Details
- Game 3 puck drop: 7 p.m. ET at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
- The Lightning are the -121 favourites.
- The over/under for total goals scored is 6.
The SportsLine model projects 6.1 combined goals between the teams, favouring the Over. See the model’s Canadiens vs. Lightning predictions at SportsLine.