The Atlantic Division: Canadiens Versus Lightning
With the slide of the Leafs and the dominance of Boston, these two teams look absolutely destined to play each other. Over the past few years Montreal has been very much a team that plays better playoff series against teams they play well against in the regular season.
This Season:
All three games so far this year have ended 1-1 at the end of regulation. Each team has won 1 in the shootout, Tampa has won 1 in OT.. These two teams play once more. In Tampa tuesday night.
Last Three Seasons:
Montreal has won 6 of the ten meetings over the last three years two in extra time. Tampa has won 4 of the ten, two in extra time. So in the last ten games the Lightning have only won 2 of the ten in regulation...and Tampa only has scored 21 goals in those 10 games.
All Time Record: Montreal : 40 wins Tampa: 33 wins 6 ties.
Playoffs Against: Ten years ago these teams met in their only playoff matchup in NHL history...and it was ALL Tampa. The Bolts swept the Canadiens in four games, outscoring the Lightning 14-5
The X factor:
Tomorrow night's game will be very interesting for sure. Both of these teams could be classified as surprises. I believe the match ups in this case telling us really very little. This series has 7 games written all over it.
What's the Buzz?
Next up...The Metropolitan Division