Canadiens vs. Lightning odds, line: 2026 NHL playoff best bets for Game 3 from proven model

The Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning meet in Game 3 of their first-round NHL playoff matchup on Friday. The Lightning were upset in Game 1, but bounced with an overtime win in Game 2 to salvage a split at home. 

Face-off for Game 3 from the Bell Centre in Montreal is set for 7 p.m. ET. The Lightning are the -122 favorites (risk $122 to win $100) in the latest Canadiens vs. Lightning odds, while the over/under for total goals scored is 5.5.

Before making any Canadiens vs. Lightning picks, or predictions, you NEED to see what the SportsLine Projection Model has to say.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NHL game 10,000 times. The model enters the first full week of the 2026 NHL playoffs profitable on top-rated NHL picks this season, including a +550 return on top-rated money-line picks. Anyone following could have seen strong returns!

Now, it has simulated Canadiens vs. Lightning 10,000 times and the results are in. The model is going Over on the goal total and is says one side of the money line has ALL the value!

So who wins Canadiens vs. Lightning, and which pick has ALL the value? ... Join SportsLine right now to find out which side you should be all over, all from the model that has a +550 return on top-rated puck-line picks!