Can The Montreal Canadiens Steal Game 2 Of The Finals?

  • The Tampa Bay Lightning won Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals 5-1.
  • The Bolts are -210 favorites to win Game 2.
  • The Montreal Canadiens have +175 odds to pull off the Game 2 upset.

TAMPA, Fla. - The Tampa Bay Lightning dominated the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Bolts came out swinging, and took a 5-1 lead that they never relinquished, demonstrating their far superior talent.

The Habs have overperformed significantly in these playoffs so far, but the Lightning might just be too tall an order for them.

Still, the series has a ton of appeal for sports betting fans, including, it seems, the leaders of the United States and Canada.

All due respect to Prime Minister Trudeau, if this bet was made at even odds, President Biden got away with a robbery here.

After all, before Game 1, the Lightning were -240 favorites to win the series, and -200 favorites to win that game. Now, with a game in hand, the Lightning are overwhelming favorites to win Game 2, and take a seriously advantaged position in the series..

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens Game 2 Moneyline

  • Montreal Canadiens +175
  • Tampa Bay Lightning -210

The Lightning are -210 favorites on the moneyline in Game 2, a slight upgrade from where they were in Game 1.

The circumstances are mostly the same - they’re playing at home, they’re the better team, and they should win.

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens Game 2 Puck Line

  • Montreal Canadiens +1.5 (-145)
  • Tampa Bay Lightning -1.5 (+125)

The Lightning aren’t favored to the point that they’re favored even with the puck line handicap, but it’s not far off. It seems unlikely that the series will ever reach the point that the Lightning can move the puck line close to even, but not impossible.

Another dominating victory in Game 2 could go a long way towards achieving this goal.

Stanley Cup Finals Game 2 Margin of Victory - Regulation Time

  • Lightning By 3 Or More Goals +210
  • Tie +320
  • Lightning By 1 Goal +550
  • Lightning By 2 Goals +550
  • Canadiens By 1 Goal +775
  • Canadiens By 3 Or More Goals +1000
  • Canadiens By 2 Goals +1200

So, what’s the most likely outcome of this game? According to the margin of victory odds, the most likely outcome is the Lightning winning by three or more goals.

In fact, three of the four most likely outcomes involve Lightning victory, and the fourth is a tie at the end of regulation.

The Lightning aren’t just expected to win, they’re expected to win easily. It seems like Prime Minister Trudeau might be out of luck with his wager.

Online gambling fans can wager on this matchup at the online sportsbooks, and it will be broadcast at 8 p.m. EST on Wednesday on NBCSN.