NHL Stanley Cup Final 2021: Game 1 Odds and Canadiens vs. Lightning Predictions

The semifinal round of the 2021 NHL postseason was filled with its fair share of drama and surprises. The New York Islanders took the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning to seven games, though Tampa ultimately moved on. The Montreal Canadiens, meanwhile, pulled off a shocker by beating the Vegas Golden Knights in six.

It wasn't that no one believed in Montreal, but the Habs were heavy underdogs entering the series. As of June 16, the Canadiens were 170-1 to win the Stanley Cup Finals, per DraftKings.

While the Canadiens are keeping their underdog mentality in the Finals, they won't be content to just get this far.

"We're not satisfied," acting head coach Luke Richardson said, per Vicki Hall of CBC Sports. "We're just enjoying the ride and the run, because the players deserve it."

Montreal will be looking to bring home the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1993.

Like the Canadiens, the Lightning aren't satisfied with a second consecutive appearance in the final round.

"Look, we haven't won the Stanley Cup this year; we're chasing it just like Montreal is," coach Jon Cooper said, per Jackie Spiegel of Sporting News. "... That's all well and good to one day put on your gravestone, that you won a Stanley Cup, but to do it two years in a row, now you are talking about, now your team is special."

Montreal and Tampa Bay will begin their Stanley Cup battle on Monday.

2021 Stanley Cup Finals Game 1

Who: Canadiens at Lightning

When: Monday, June 28

Time: 8 p.m. ET

TV and Live Stream: NBCSN, CBS, SN, TVAS, Peacock

Line: Tampa Bay -1.5, Montreal +1.5

*Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

While Tampa is the favorite, it is also a team that survived the tougher matchup in the last round. Not only did the Lightning play an extra game, they also endured the emotional and physical fatigue of multiple close contests, questionable calls and hard contact.

Star winger Nikita Kucherov, for example, exited the Game 6 loss after taking a brutal cross check in the back from Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield. While there were questions about his availability for Game 7, Kucherov never doubted himself.

"I felt good, and we decided to, you know, what else, to do Game 7. You've got to sacrifice yourself and play in this moment and share with the boys," Kucherov said, per Spiegel.

The Lightning have the talent to repeat, but it's fair to wonder if they can outlast a Canadiens team with four days' rest and a massive momentum high.

Sound defense may be the key for Tampa Bay in Game 1. While Montreal only allowed nine goals in the final five games of its series, it was also 1-2 in the series when scoring two or fewer goals. Tampa was 4-1 when allowing two or fewer goals in the last round.

Fans should expect a bit of a defensive struggle in Game 1, as Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy and Canadiens goalie Carey Price are superb. While Tampa has plenty of offensive firepower—they scored four goals in Game 2 and eight in Game 5 against New York—an offensive shootout feels unlikely.

Still, Tampa Bay's potent offense, led by Kucherov, does give the Lightning an advantage. Tampa is the more complete team and should take the opening game in a tight one.

Prediction; Tampa Bay 3, Montreal 2

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