| MATCHUP | Montreal Canadiens | Buffalo Sabres |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 48-24-10 | 50-23-9 |
| Spread | +1.5 -230 | -1.5 190 |
| Moneyline | +110 | -130 |
| Total | Over 5.5 (-122) | Under 5.5 (102) |
| Where | KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY | |
| When | Wednesday, May 6, 2026 | |
| Time | 07:00 PM EDT | |
| TV | TNT | |
Montreal Canadiens Betting Preview
The Montreal Canadiens beat the Lightning in 7 games and are in the second round for the first time since the 2020-21 season. The Canadiens have won 15 of their last 20 games.
The Montreal Canadiens are averaging 2.29 goals per game and are scoring on 19.2 percent of their power play opportunities. Juraj Slafkovsky leads Montreal with 3 goals, Nick Suzuki has 5 assists and Lane Hutson has 14 shots on goal. Defensively, the Montreal Canadiens are allowing 2.14 goals per game and are killing 82.8 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Jakub Dobes has given up 15 goals on 196 shots faced.
Buffalo Sabres Betting Preview
The Buffalo Sabres beat the Bruins in 6 games and are in the second round for the first time since the 2006-07 season. The Sabres have won 10 of their last 14 games.
The Buffalo Sabres are averaging 3.33 goals per game and are scoring 4.2 percent of their power play opportunities. Alex Tuch leads Buffalo with 4 goals, Tage Thompson has 5 assists, and Rasmus Dahlin has 21 shots on goal. Defensively, the Buffalo Sabres are allowing 2 goals per game and are killing 87.5 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has allowed 7 goals on 40 shots faced, and Alex Lyon has given up 5 goals on 111 shots.
Why the Buffalo Sabres will win
- The Sabres have won 12 of their last 14 night games at KeyBank Center following a road win.
- The Canadiens have lost three of their last four Game 1s of a playoff series.
- The Sabres have covered the puck line in 20 of their last 25 night games following a road win.
- The Canadiens have failed to cover the puck line in three of their last four road games following a road win.
- The Canadiens have lost the third period in each of their last four road games following a road win.
Why the Montreal Canadiens will win
- The underdogs have won each of the last 10 games between the Canadiens and Sabres at KeyBank Center.
- The Sabres have lost seven of their last 10 games as home favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Canadiens have covered the puck line in each of their last 25 games as underdogs against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Sabres have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last nine games as home favorites.
- The Sabres have lost the second period in each of their last five games as favorites against Eastern Conference opponents when leading after the first period.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the Canadiens’ last six games against Atlantic Division opponents has gone UNDER the total goals line.
- Nine of the last 10 night games between two teams from the Atlantic Division have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- Each of the Sabres’ last four games as home favorites following a road win has gone UNDER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2′ market has hit in nine of the Sabres’ last 10 games as favorites against the Canadiens.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2′ market has hit in each of the Canadiens’ last five games at KeyBank Center.
Buffalo Sabres Player Prop Facts
- Alex Tuch has scored a goal in three of the Sabres’ last four playoff games.
- Rasmus Dahlin has recorded an assist in each of the Sabres’ last four home games against the Canadiens.
- Tyson Kozak has recorded four shots against the Canadiens this season—equal to the most against any opponent.
Montreal Canadiens Player Prop Facts
- Cole Caufield has scored at least one goal in each of the Canadiens’ last four games at KeyBank Center.
- Lane Hutson has recorded at least one assist in each of the Canadiens’ last four road games against the Sabres.
- Cole Caufield ranks 2nd in the league for Goals (51) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Buffalo Sabres are one of seven teams to rank in the top 10 for both goals scored and goals conceded per game this season.
- The Buffalo Sabres rank T2nd in the league in shorthanded goals this season (11).
- The Montreal Canadiens rank T4th in the league in short-handed goals allowed this season (4).
- The Montreal Canadiens rank 4th in the league for Period 2 goals scored per game this season (1.20).
Montreal Canadiens vs Buffalo Sabres Injury Report
The Canadiens will be without Patrik Laine.
The Sabres will be without Justin Danforth, Jiri Kulich, and Noah Ostlund. Sam Carrick is questionable.
Montreal Canadiens vs Buffalo Sabres Prediction
The Sabres have been lighting it up offensively over the last few weeks and I expect fresh legs to lead to more aggressiveness. The Habs played a lot of hockey against Tampa Bay and now play back-to-back road games. Nine of the last 10 games between the Canadiens and Sabres have produced at least 6 goals. The winner has produced at least 4 goals in nine of those 10 games. We’re seeing a lot of offense in these playoffs lately and I expect more of the same in this series opener. Give me the over.