Buffalo Sabres vs Montreal Canadiens Prediction NHL Picks 12/17/24

The Buffalo Sabres and the Montreal Canadiens meet Tuesday in NHL action from the Bell Centre. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Buffalo Sabres vs. Montreal Canadiens prediction.

Buffalo Sabres Recap

The Buffalo Sabres come into this game looking to snap out of their skid following a 5-3 loss in their last matchup against Toronto. After this game, the Sabres will have a rematch at home with the Maple Leafs and then will take on the Bruins.

Sabres Losing Streak Hits Double Digits

Alex Tuch leads the Sabres in scoring with 25 points including 9 goals and a team-high 16 assists while Tage Thompson has 25 points with a team-high 16 goals. JJ Peterka has 20 points with 8 goals and 12 assists and Rasmus Dahlin has 19 points with 6 goals and 13 assists. Jason Zucker also added 21 points with 8 goals and 13 assists. Devon Levi has gone 2-6 in net for the Sabres with a 3.97 GAA and an .876 save percentage while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is 8-9-3 with a 2.80 GAA and a .903 save percentage as well on the year. James Reimer is 1-1-1 with a 2.97 GAA and a .892 save percentage.

Why the Buffalo Sabres will win

• The road team has won each of the last eight games between the Sabres and Canadiens.
• The Canadiens have lost 18 of their last 21 night games against Atlantic Division opponents.
• The Sabres have covered the puck line in each of their last 10 Tuesday games.
• The Canadiens have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last four games.

Montreal Canadiens Recap

The Montreal Canadiens will be looking for a bounce back after a 4-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets last time out. After this game, Montreal will head on the road for a home and home with the Detroit Red Wings.

Canadiens Drop Back-To-Back Games

Nick Suzuki has a team-high 30 points with 11 goals and a team-high 19 assists while Cole Caufield has 27 points with a team-high 17 goals. Mike Matheson has 14 assists while Juraj Slafkovsky has 15 points with 13 assists and Lane Hutson has 19 assists as well on the year. Brendan Gallagher has 14 points with 8 goals while Jake Evans has 15 points with 5 goals and 10 assists. In goal for Montreal, Sam Montembeault has gone 9-13-2 with a 3.01 GAA and a .900 save percentage while Cayden Primeau is 2-3-1 with a 4.45 GAA and an .844 save percentage this season.

Why the Montreal Canadiens will win

• The Sabres have lost each of their last 10 games.
• The Canadiens have won four of their last six games as underdogs against the Sabres.
• The Canadiens have covered the puck line in nine of their last 10 games at Bell Centre following a road loss.
• The Sabres have failed to cover the puck line in eight of their last nine games as favorites.

Sabres vs. Canadiens Prediction

I’m on Montreal here. It just boils down to the fact that I can’t lay juice on the road with a team that’s lost 10 straight games. Montreal’s no-price themselves, but they play their better hockey at home and already took down Buffalo earlier this season, hanging 7 goals on the Sabres in the process. Give me Montreal as more of a fade of Buffalo than anything else.