The problem with an underdog team winning the first three games of a series is that there isn't much of a safety net when it comes to blowing that series lead.
The Tampa Bay Lightning (57-28-3-5) were beaten and beaten soundly in Game 4 with a 3-0 series lead, and now, they’re tremendous underdogs to be going back home with just a 3-2 lead after Saturday night's Game 5 against the Montreal Canadiens (55-26-6-5).
ODDS ANALYSIS
The pressure on Tampa is immense in this game, but the oddsmakers don't seem like they are going to take note of that. The Habs are expected to open around -130 favorites or so for Game 5, which is on par for what they’ve been for home games throughout this series.
GOALIE REPORT
The time is going to come at some point that Carey Price is going to come alive and play like a Vezina winner. He only has a 2.28 GAA and a .920 save percentage here in the playoffs, and though those numbers aren't bad, they aren't great either.
Price didn't have a tremendous game on Thursday, but going 22-of-24 in saves isn't bad either. It was certainly a lot better than Ben Bishop, who allowed three goals in the first period and change before getting pulled.
Little did we know at the time that the Habs were going to pour it on from there, so perhaps Jon Cooper made the right move preserving his goalie to try to fight another day.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"They got out to the big lead, and we truly were pressing too much, and it just got worse after that. We've just got to regroup… Nobody ever thought that when this series started, it was going to be a sweep, and I don't think anybody ever thought that we were going to roll into Montreal and take two." – Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper on his team's mindset in this series
SITUATIONAL BETTING
Montreal still only has two power play goals in these playoffs, but the fact that it got one to go in the back of the net in Game 4 might open up the floodgates as it did with Tampa earlier in this series.
The Canadiens were good on the man advantage during the regular season, and they have some serious potential with their men at the point firing off slappers at a ridiculous clip. Now, they just have to put them in the back of the net.
PROP TALK
Steven Stamkos got on the score sheet against Montreal in Game 3 of this series, but the bottom line is that he still only has one goal in his 11 playoff games.
We hate betting against No. 91 to score, but we know that it is the right thing to do until he proves himself.
ANALYSIS & PREDICTION
The Lightning are in some serious trouble. Cooper is right that they were pressing in Game 4, and it isn't going to be any easier to press less in Game 5 on the road.
The Canadiens are playing like a veteran bunch, and they have now won four of their last five elimination games dating back to last year.
We're not all that sure that Price is going to be able to put up an elite performance in this one, but if he does, the Bolts are going to be going back home with a lot of voices in their heads about the Canadiens potentially coming back from down 0-3 to win this series.
Montreal 4, Tampa Bay 2
The NHL odds for this Saturday contest will be released first by BookMaker. Since this game can be seen by anyone with a TV, BookMaker will have a multitude of wagering options available for it. Outside of the normal lines, you can gamble on real-time odds and player props during the game. Live betting is open during every commercial break!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device or tablet at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker's live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here, so start betting with BookMaker today! The matchup between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Montreal Canadiens will start at 7:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 9, 2015 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Game 5 of this series will be televised live on NBC Sports Network.
