Montreal Canadiens at Buffalo Sabres odds, picks and predictions
The Montreal Canadiens (2-1-1) travel to meet the Buffalo Sabres (2-3-0) Monday at KeyBank Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (NHL Network). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Canadiens vs. Sabres odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Canadiens have alternated wins and losses since the opener, which was the team’s only road game to date. Montreal fell 6-5 in a wild shootout loss in Toronto to open the season as the Over (6.5) easily cashed.
The Sabres will be playing their 5th home game of the season. Buffalo has split the first 4 games at KeyBank Center, winning 3-1 against the New York Islanders in the most recent skate at home on Saturday. The Under has cashed in 4 of 5 games overall, including 3-1 at home.
Stream the NHL all season on ESPN+, with your team’s out-of-market games, exclusive games, originals and more. Get ESPN+ now!
Canadiens at Sabres odds
BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:41 a.m. ET.
Canadiens at Sabres projected goalies
Jake Allen (1-0-1, 3.34 GAA, .907 SV%) vs. Devon Levi (1-3-0, 3.26 GAA, .892 SV%)
Allen has had a flare for the dramatic in his 2 outings so far. He allowed 5 goals on 42 shots in the aforementioned 6-5 SOL at Toronto in the opener, while stopping 31 of 33 shots in a 3-2 OT win against Washington last time out on Saturday.
Levi coughed up 4 goals on 36 shots in a 4-3 loss against the Calgary Flames on Thursday in his most recent showing. He has started 4 of the team’s 5 games to date, allowing 10 total goals in 3 home starts.
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Canadiens at Sabres picks and predictions
Prediction
Sabres 4, Canadiens 3
The Sabres (-185) are a little on the pricey side, costing you nearly 2 times your potential return. That’s too much for a team which has basically been spinning its wheels this season, failing to gain traction one way or the other.
The Canadiens (+150) might be the better play, as the road team is 4-1 in the past 5 in this series, but Montreal has just been too inconsistent, too. Don’t bet just to bet, it’s a losing proposition.
AVOID.
The CANADIENS +1.5 (-150) is worth playing lightly, as we could have a very close game. Montreal has needed overtime or a shootout in 2 of 4 games to date, with 3 of its 4 games decided by a single goal.
The Sabres -1.5 (+125) have also played 3 games decided by a single goal through 5 outings.
The OVER 6.5 (-125) is the lean, but again, go lightly.
The Under has cashed in 4 of 5 games for Buffalo, so you’ll be going a bit against the grain. However, Buffalo has allowed 3 or more goals in 3 of 5 games, while Montreal has yielded 15 goals through 4 outings. We should see plenty of lamp lightings.
