The long NHL season could end Monday night. The Tampa Bay Lightning are just one game away from clinching their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship. In the 2021 Stanley Cup Final, the Lightning has completely and mercilessly outclassed the Montreal Canadiens. Montreal began the Final as a dream NHL betting Cinderella team. But the Stanley Cup Final has proven to be a reality check. In the first three rounds, the Canadiens faced teams that lacked will or skill. By contrast, Tampa Bay has both in spades. So far, the Lighting has blown apart Montreal’s discipline and structure.
Game 4 of the best of seven series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Montreal Canadiens will take place on Monday, July 5, 2021, from Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. This game will be broadcast live on NBC at 8 p.m. ET. We’ll have NHL playoff odds and player props available at Bookmaker.eu for this and every game going on tonight’s NHL playoff slate.
Stanley Cup Game 4 Odds at Bookmaker.eu
Tampa Bay Lightning -140
Montreal Canadiens +130
Total 5, over -130
Odds Analysis
For Game 4, we have a consensus from sharps and squares. Neither wants to step into the powerful Lightning. On the other hand, gamblers have to ask if the expensive price tag on the Lightning is worth the costly lay. While Tampa Bay seems like a lock, that term is always dangerous for NHL betting. Some gamblers may take a Game 4 flier on the Habs based on home ice. Naturally, the proud Canadiens don’t want the Cup presented to the Lightning on their home ice.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Game 3 on Friday night showed a devastating level of Tampa Bay power in a 6-3 Betting on NHL win. Montreal’s Carey Price gets all the headlines but stopped only 24 out of 29 shots. Counter to that was Tampa Bay goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. To show, Vasilevskiy put himself at the top of the Conn Smythe Trophy race with 32 saves on 35 shots.
So far in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Vasilevskiy has been nearly flawless. Vasilevskiy has a .938 save percentage and 1.94 goals against average with five shutouts. His record in the playoffs is 15-6.
Center Brayden Point has emerged as another Conn Smythe Trophy candidate. Point has 14 goals with nine assists and a +7 in the postseason. Meanwhile, right wing Nikita Kucherov leads the Lightning with eight goals, 24 assists, and a +6. While team captain and center Steven Stamkos has eight goals and ten assists.
Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens used structure and defense to prevail in their series wins over the Maple Leafs, Jets, and Golden Knights. However, Tampa Bay is so good that they have destroyed the Canadiens’ previous advantages. Montreal is facing the ultimate in pro hockey betting exposure. To show, the Lightning is in an entirely different class than the Canadiens’ last opponents.
With his team breaking down in front of him, goaltender Carey Price has often been left to his own devices. So far in the 2021 Stanley Cup Final, Price has weak save percentages of .815, .870, and .828 in the first three games.
First among Montreal scorers is center Nick Suzuki with seven goals, eight assists with a -.5. Rookie Cole Caufield has four goals and six assists with a -5. After an impressive showing against Vegas, Caufield is getting suffocated by Tampa Bay in the Final.
Tampa Bay vs. Montreal Game 4 Prediction
In this situation, Montreal is in way over their skates. In Game 3, the Bolts showed they are all business and ready to end the series. Indeed, the Lighting is proving why they are a defending champion and the best team in hockey.
BookMaker Pick: Tampa Bay Lightning
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