The Sabres and Canadiens are set to face off at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The Canadiens will host the game at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC. The Sabres are the -1.5 goal favorites in this Atlantic division matchup against the Canadiens. The over/under for the game is set at 6.5 goals. If you’re interested in placing a wager, you can bet this game at BetMGM.
Buffalo Sabres Preview
Buffalo enters this game with a record of 24-27-4 and has gone 4-6 in their last ten games. They are currently 13th in the Eastern Conference and 6th in the Atlantic Division. On the road, the Sabres have gone 12-11-3 this season and have won three straight games.
When favored, Buffalo has gone 11-9-1 this season and has lost their last two games as the favorite. In games against Eastern Conference opponents, the Sabres have gone 13-19 this season.
On the offensive side, the Sabres are scoring an 2.9 goals per game this season, ranking 22nd in the NHL. When it came to shots on target per game, they are 11th in the league. This season, the Sabres are 15-18 when getting more shots on goal than their opponents. And in games with fewer shots on goal, they have a 9-9 record.
Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen gets the start and has made 28 starts this season. His record at this point is 14-14, and his save percentage is 0.745%.
Montreal Canadiens Preview
Montreal comes into this game with a record of 22-25-8, which puts them in 14th place in the Eastern Conference. In the Atlantic Division, the Canadiens are in 7th place. Over their last ten games, Montreal has gone just 3-7, and they have lost their last two games. For the season, the Canadiens have gone 12-18 against Eastern Conference opponents and 4-11 against teams in the Atlantic Division.
When playing at home, Montreal has gone 11-15-3 this season. As the underdog, the Canadiens have gone 18-24-8 and have lost their last four games when not favored. Over their last five games, Montreal has gone just 1-4.
Offensively, the Canadiens come into the game at 2.8 goals per contest placing 27th in the NHL. In terms of shots on goal per game, they are in 27th position in the league. Montreal’s offense is currently ranked 17th in power play goals. When it comes to shorthanded goals, they are 16th in the league.
Entering the game, goalie Sam Montembeault has started 25 games this season. His current record stands at 12-9, and his save percentage is 0.774%.
Over the course of their three head-to-head contests last year, the Sabres and Canadiens split their series. The advantage in terms of the puck line belonged to the Canadiens in these matchups, as they posted a 2-1-2 record.
Over the course of their three head-to-head contests last year, the Sabres and Canadiens split their series. The advantage in terms of the puck line belonged to the Canadiens in these matchups, as they posted a 2-1-2 record.
How to Bet Canadiens vs. Sabres in New York
If you’re looking to get a bet down on this matchup, we foresee the Canadiens winning the underdog. However, if you’re not as confident in the Canadiens straight-up, we’d still recommend placing a bet on them to cover the puck line. With an over/under line sitting at 6.5 goals, we like this game to surpass that mark and recommend getting a bet down on the over.
- SportsBettingNY Puck Line Prediction: Canadiens +1.5
- SportsBettingNY OU Prediction: Over 6.5