1* free play on the Montreal Canadiens...

The Atlantic Division foes the Montreal Canadiens and the Tampa Bay Lightning will open their Eastern Conference semifinals series with a game at Bell Center tonight. Tampa Bay won each of the five meetings during the regular season, but that counts for little in the playoffs and I think the price is right to back the Canadiens in this contest.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Tampa Bay's Style Not Suited For The Playoffs - The Lightning averaged a league-high 3.10 goals per game during the regular season but managed only 2.42 goals per game in the conference quarterfinals against Detroit. The Red Wings shut out Tampa twice and somewhat surprisingly took the series to seven games as it frustrated the Lightning with a compact D. No one knows how to play D better than the Habs who were tied with the Blackhawks for least conceded goals during the regular season giving up just 189 over their 82 games, and Tampa will be in for a tough series here.

2. Difference In Confidence - Montreal defeated the Sens over six games in the first round after winning each of the first three games before taking the foot of the gas pedal for two games. It then shut out the Sens in an impressive defensive display at Ottawa, while the Lightning must be a but shell-shocked only just managing to squeeze past Detroit.

3. X-Factor - The Habs Max Pacioretty has just two goals over five games in the post-season so far but he has eight goals and six assists in 20 games versus Tampa Bay over his career.

Selection: This is a play on the Montreal Canadiens (FREE)