Montreal Canadiens vs Buffalo Sabres Prediction 5/8/2026 Today’s NHL Picks

In this article, we will formulate a Canadiens vs Sabres Prediction for Game 2 of this NHL Eastern Conference Semifinal on Friday, May 8th. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this NHL matchup.

Buffalo Sabres Preview

The Sabres finished the regular season with 109 points with a 50-23-9 record and were placed 1st in the Atlantic Division. They have a 26-10-5 home record and are coming off a 4-2 home win over the Canadiens Their previous three games were a 4-1 road win, a 1-2 home overtime loss, and a 6-1 road win over the Bruins.

Offensively, the Sabres are averaging 3.45 goals per game and are scoring 19.5% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 2.93 goals per game and are killing 81.9% of their opponent’s power plays.

Tage Thompson leads the Sabres with 81 points and 40 goals, while Rasmus Dahlin leads the team in assists with 55. Alex Lyon is the starting goalie for the Sabres, and he has a 20-10-4 record, with 2.77 GAA and .907 SV%. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is the backup goalie and he has a 22-9-3 record, with 2.52 GAA and .910 SV%.

Montreal Canadiens Preview

The Canadiens finished the regular season with 106 points with a 48-24-10 record and were placed 3rd in the Atlantic Division. They have a a 24-9-8 road record and are coming off a 2-4 road loss to the Sabres Their previous three games were a 2-1 road win, a 0-1 home overtime loss, and a 3-2 road win over the Lightning.

Offensively, the Canadiens are averaging 3.40 goals per game and are scoring 23.1% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 3.06 goals per game and are killing 78.2% of their opponent’s power plays.

Nick Suzuki leads the Canadiens with 101 points and 72 assists, while Cole Caufield leads the team in goals with 51. Jakub Dobes is the starting goalie for the Canadiens, and he has a 29-10-4 record, with 2.78 GAA and .901 SV%. Samuel Montembeault is the backup goalie and he has a 10-8-4 record, with 3.43 GAA and .872 SV%.

Montreal Canadiens @ Buffalo Sabres Betting Trends: May 8, 2026

Why the Buffalo Sabres will win

• The Sabres have won eight of their last 10 games against Eastern Conference opponents.
• The Canadiens have lost each of their last three Game 2s of a playoff series.
• The Sabres have covered the puck line in four of their last five games.
• The Canadiens have failed to cover the puck line in five of their last six night games at KeyBank Center following a road loss.
• The Sabres have won the third period in eight of their last nine games when leading after the second period.

Why the Montreal Canadiens will win

• The Canadiens have won each of their last 10 games as underdogs following a road loss.
• The Sabres have lost five of their last seven games as home favorites following a home win.
• The Canadiens have covered the puck line in each of their last 12 games as underdogs against opponents on a winning streak.
• The Sabres have failed to cover the puck line in 10 of their last 11 games as home favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
• The Canadiens have won the second period in eight of their last nine games as underdogs when trailing after the first period.

Total Goals Facts

• Each of the Sabres’ last eight Friday night games at KeyBank Center have gone OVER the total goals line.
• Eight of the last nine night games between two teams from the Atlantic Division have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• Six of the Canadiens’ last seven games have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2′ market has hit in each of the Sabres’ last eight games as favorites against the Canadiens.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Canadiens’ last four games as underdogs against opponents on a winning streak.

Buffalo Sabres Player Prop Facts

• Josh Doan has scored a goal in three of his four previous home appearances against the Canadiens.
• Rasmus Dahlin has recorded an assist in five of his last six appearances with the Sabres as favorites against the Canadiens.
• Zach Benson has recorded four assists against the Canadiens this season – equal-most against any opponent.

Montreal Canadiens Player Prop Facts

• Cole Caufield has scored at least one goal in four of the Canadiens’ last five road games against the Sabres.
• Nick Suzuki has recorded at least one assist in eight of the Canadiens’ last nine games against the Sabres.
• Cole Caufield ranks 1st in the league for Game Winning Goals (12) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Buffalo Sabres rank 4th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (81.90%).
• The Buffalo Sabres rank 5th in the league for goals per game this season (3.45).
• The Montreal Canadiens rank 7th in the league for goals per game this season (3.40).
• The Montreal Canadiens are one of only three teams with two or more players to record at least 60 assists this season (Nick Suzuki, Lane Hutson).

Canadiens vs Sabres Prediction

The Sabres are 3-1 in their last four meetings against the Canadiens but are 2-3 in their last 5 meetings in Buffalo.

In this Canadiens vs Sabres Prediction, the Sabres are coming as -140 home favorites. Montreal’s last seven games, all in the playoffs had six total goals or less, while Buffalo’s 5 of its last 6 games had six or less. Only one of their five meetings this season had more than six total goals and both teams are top-5 in goals allowed in the playoffs. On top of that, the Sabres are just 13th in power play percentage in the postseason so I expect a low-scoring affair. Take the under 6 in this one.

Nikos Lagouretos's Pick: Under 6