Stanley Cup Final Game 1: Thiessen picks Montreal Canadiens at Tampa Bay Lightning, just like no one expected

NHL Stanley Cup Finals start Monday as defending champs take on newcomers

Raise your hand if you had this matchup in the Stanley Cup Final.

And let me borrow a couple bucks, because you are rich.

I have not seen anyone wacky enough to claim this pairing before the playoffs started, and you probably could have gotten crazy odds to get the Montreal Canadiens in the finals after they went down 3-1 to Toronto in the opening round.

But here they are, ready to go head-to-head with the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning, for the Canadiens first trip to the finals since 1993.

Most people have Montreal as heavy underdogs, but that is where the Canadiens have thrived in this postseason.

I have the Lightning winning their second-straight in six, but I also think Tampa Bay can roll in five.

Either way, I think Lightning strikes first tonight.

Check Fubo.TV for schedules

NHL STANLEY CUP FINALS GAME 1

Montreal (+165) at Tampa Bay (-205), 8 p.m. EDT (NBCSN and Fubo.TV)

THE PICKS:

Tampa Bay three-way ML (-115)

Tampa Bay over 3 goals (+110)

CORRECT SCORE BET:

Tampa Bay 3-2

CORRECT SERIES BET:

Tampa Bay in 6