The 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Final is finally here! Will it be a 24th win for the historic Montreal Canadiens? Or are the Lightning strong enough to take down the prestigious prize for a second straight campaign? Have a read below for all our NHL picks.
Tampa Bay Lightning @ Montreal Canadiens ( Final – Game 4) – 8.00 PM EDT
Following their 6-3 victory in game 3, the Lightning are now just a game away from becoming just the second team in 22 years to win the Stanley Cup in back to back years, and as it stands it looks like we will be seeing a clean sweep.
For the second straight game the Lightning prevailed despite taking less shots than the Canadiens, with their efficiency in front of goal and the consistency of Andrei Vasilevskiy to thank.
It took less than 2 minutes for the Lightning to get on the board, with Jan Rutta opening the scoring before Victor Hedman added another on a powerplay in the third minute of the game. The Lightning have been so dominant when striking first this postseason, rarely throwing away a lead once they earn it.
“We wanted to have a fast start, we knew they were going to come out.”
Victor Hedman & Nikita Kucherov: https://t.co/wBCP9YXPLa pic.twitter.com/bdqBPkf0Yz
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) July 3, 2021
Despite the Habs pulling one back midway through the first term, the hard work was undone in the second as the Lightning once again scored twice in the space of 2 minutes to blow the scoreline out to 4-1. Nick Suzuki closed out the period by giving the Habs some hope with a late goal, but it wasn’t able to influence the game too dramatically as the Lightning broke away in the fifth.
After a strong showing in Tampa for game 2 it looked like the Canadiens would return to Montreal and find it in them to get the job done, but after winning the last 3 straight there seems to be no stopping this Lightning outfit.
NHL Pick – Tampa Bay Lightning (-154)
Spread Pick – Unlock Premium Picks
Total Goals Pick – Unlock Premium Picks
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
