Buffalo (2-3-0) vs Montreal (4-2-0)
October 20, 2025 at 07:30 PM EDT
The Line: Betting Odds: Montreal -1.5 — Over/Under: +6.5
The Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens meet Monday in NHL action at Bell Centre. Here’s a Buffalo Sabres vs Montreal Canadiens Prediction. This article will include a Buffalo Sabres vs Montreal Canadiens Pick.
Buffalo Sabres Betting Preview
The Buffalo Sabres beat the Senators and Panthers, and they play the Red Wings next. The Sabres have lost 7 of their last 10 games.
The Buffalo Sabres are averaging 2.6 goals per game and are scoring 27.8 percent of their power play opportunities. Jason Zucker leads Buffalo with 3 goals, Zach Benson has 5 assists, and Tage Thompson has 19 shots on goal. Defensively, the Buffalo Sabres are allowing 2.8 goals per game and are killing 95.7 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Alex Lyon has given up 12 goals on 168 shots faced.
Montreal Canadiens Betting Preview
The Montreal Canadiens beat the Predators, lost to the Rangers, and they play the Flames next. The Canadiens have won 11 of their last 16 regular season games.
The Montreal Canadiens are averaging 3.5 goals per game and are scoring 18.2 percent of their power play opportunities. Cole Caufield leads Montreal with 5 goals, Nick Suzuki has 7 assists and Zack Bolduc has 15 shots on goal. Defensively, the Montreal Canadiens are allowing 3 goals per game and are killing 72.2 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Jakub Dobes has given up 3 goals on 50 shots faced, and Sam Montembeault has allowed 13 goals on 91 shots.
Why the Montreal Canadiens will win
- The Canadiens have won seven of their last eight home games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The Sabres have lost each of their last four road games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Canadiens have covered the puck line in each of their last five games against the Sabres following a loss.
- The Sabres have failed to cover the puck line in five of their last six night games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Sabres have lost the second period in each of their last four games at Bell Centre following a win.
Why the Buffalo Sabres will win
- The Sabres have won four of their last six games as underdogs following a win.
- The Canadiens have lost four of their last five games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The underdogs have covered the puck line in each of the Canadiens’ last five games.
- The Canadiens have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last seven Monday games as favorites.
- The Canadiens have lost the second period in four of their last five games at Bell Centre when leading after the first period.
Total Goals Facts
- Seven of the Canadiens’ last eight night games against the Sabres following a home loss have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- Each of the Sabres’ last four games following a win have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- Four of the last five games between teams from the same division have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in each of the Canadiens’ last 11 games as home favorites against opponents on a winning streak.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in 12 of the Sabres’ last 15 road games against Eastern Conference opponents.
Montreal Canadiens Player Prop Facts
- Nick Suzuki has scored a goal in nine of the Canadiens’ last 10 games as home favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
- Nick Suzuki has scored the last goal in each of the Canadiens’ last three games against Atlantic Division opponents at Bell Centre.
- Cole Caufield has recorded at least one point in each of the Canadiens’ last eight games at Bell Centre.
- Nick Suzuki has recorded at least one assist in each of the Canadiens’ last five games as favorites against Atlantic Division opponents.
Buffalo Sabres Player Prop Facts
- Tage Thompson has scored at least one goal in eight of the Sabres’ last nine Monday games.
- Rasmus Dahlin has recorded at least one point in each of his last four road appearances against the Canadiens.
- Rasmus Dahlin has recorded an assist in four of his last five appearances against the Canadiens.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Montreal Canadiens have recorded the most wins when tied or trailing after Period 2 this season (3).
- The Montreal Canadiens rank T3rd in the league in short handed goals this season (1).
- The Buffalo Sabres rank T25th in the league for goals per game this season (2.60).
- The Buffalo Sabres rank T1st in the league for power play goals against this season (1).
Buffalo Sabres vs Montreal Canadiens Prediction
The Sabres have been one of those teams over the years that lets me down once I start to show trust and get behind them. So, after wins over the Senators and Panthers, I’m going to bet this is one of those games where the Sabres fall on their face. The Canadiens have picked up where they left off last season with wins in four of their first six tries, and they’ve won 7 of the last 9 games against the Sabres. Three of those contests weren’t that competitive. At home, I’ll ride the hot hand and roll with the Habs on Monday night.