The Lightning are (by far) the favorites against the Habs in the first round

Marc-Olivier Cook
The Lightning are (by far) the favorites against the Habs in the first round
Credit: Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images

It remains to be seen whether the Canadiens will have home-ice advantage in the first round of the NHL playoffs.

What we do know, however, is that the Montreal team will face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning, a team that knows (very well) how to win.

And let's just say the NHL isn't giving the Habs much of a chance…

According to FanDuel's odds (which were also shared by the National Hockey League), the Lightning are heavy favorites to win the first round of the playoffs against the Canadiens.

And it's not even close. The Habs have less than a 30% chance of winning the series…

What could explain this? In my view, there are two logical reasons.

1. We know just how successful the Lightning have been in the playoffs in recent years…

2. The Canadiens, who don't have much experience, will have to start the series without one of their best defensemen, Noah Dobson…

Obviously, it won't be easy for the Habs. But that doesn't mean they can't pull off a surprise and knock out the Lightning to advance to the second round of the playoffs either.

We know anything can happen in the playoffs, and we've seen it in recent years. Good teams have been eliminated in the first round, and that will be the case again this year with the matchups we'll see in the East and West.

(Credit: Screenshot / NHL.com)

One thing is certain: the Canadiens will have to work hard to beat the Lightning.

But nothing is impossible either. It's up to Martin St-Louis's men to look at this challenge and tell themselves: “We're capable of beating anyone”…


In a nutshell

– It's up to you to answer that.

– What a story.

– 3-2 CH. What about you?

– That's crazy!

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