Top Rated 10* NHL *HOT SHOT*
(NHL) Tampa Bay vs. Montreal,
Money Line: 106.00 Tampa Bay (Away)
Result: Loss
Top Rated 10* NHL *HOT SHOT*
Play: Tampa Bay Lightning
Rating: 10*

Two of the heavy weighters in the East will clash at Bell Centre on Thursday night when the Montreal Canadiens host Atlantic division foe the Tampa Bay Lightning. I like the price we get on the visitors in this spot.

The Habs have six wins and an overtime loss this season following a 3-2 victory at the Islanders last night. They're going through a rough part of the schedule and are 3-9 in their last 12 games playing on no days rest and 3-7 in their last 10 in the third game of a 3-in-4 situation.

The Lightning have five wins with a 4-0 home loss to the Avs on October 20 their only setback on the season. They've opened a five-game road trip with dominant wins at Ottawa and Toronto and are 7-2 in their last nine road games.

Montreal has won four straight head-to-head meetings, but Lighting netminder Ben Bishop is 10-3-3 with a 1.80 GAA in his career vs the Canadiens. Carey Price should be back between the pipes for the Habs after Al Montoya getting the nod last night. Price is 10-11-5 with a 2.53 GAA in his career vs the Lightning. Two fairly evenly matched teams, but the Lighting with the better offense, and with the home advantage neglected by playing on back-to-back nights I think Tampa Bay is showing great value in this contest.