Sabres vs Canadiens Picks, Best Bets & NHL Prediction (Oct. 17)

• Buffalo visits Bell Centre on Saturday night for an Atlantic Division clash with Montreal
• Both teams score 3.00 goals per game, but their special teams numbers are far apart
• Read below for my Sabres vs Canadiens picks, best bets and NHL prediction

The Buffalo Sabres visit the Montreal Canadiens tonight, with puck drop set for 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT at the Bell Centre. It’s an early chance for both clubs to gain ground in the NHL Divisional Odds race. On Tuesday, the Habs defeated the Sabres 4-3 in a shootout on home ice.

Tage Thompson leads the Buffalo attack. Montreal leans on Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky to drive its offense. The Habs are favored in the latest NHL odds. Read on for my Sabres vs Canadiens picks and best bets.

Sabres vs Canadiens Picks

• Sabres ML (+120 at BetMGM)

My top Sabres vs Canadiens pick is Buffalo to win outright at +120, which carries about a 45.5% implied probability.

The Sabres have thrived as an underdog recently, going 14-6 in their last 20 games in that role. They’ve also won seven of their last ten road games. Those recent trends span more than one season, but they give Buffalo a solid base as a road dog.

Montreal hasn’t given bettors much reason to lay a big price. The Canadiens are 2-6 in their last eight home games and 3-8 in their last eleven overall.

The Habs hold the edge on special teams, but I’ll take the plus-money side over laying -143 on a team that has struggled at home.

Sabres vs Canadiens Best Bets

• Under 6.5 Goals (-110 at BetMGM)

My Sabres vs Canadiens best bet on the total is the Under 6.5 at -110, about a 52.4% implied chance.

Neither power play has been much of a threat. Buffalo is converting at 10.3%, and Montreal sits at 13.6%. The Sabres also keep shot volume down, allowing just 24.5 shots per game.

There is some risk here. Both teams allow more than three goals per game, and Buffalo’s penalty kill has struggled at 61.5%. Still, Jacob Fowler’s projected start in Montreal tilts this toward a lower-scoring game.

Sabres vs Canadiens Prediction

My Sabres vs Canadiens prediction is a one-goal Buffalo win. I expect a tight game with few power-play goals, and the Sabres’ recent road success should carry them past a Montreal team that has struggled on home ice.

Prediction: Sabres 3, Canadiens 2

Sabres vs Canadiens Odds

Odds via BetMGM. New customers can grab the BetMGM promo code before betting Saturday’s game.

The Sabres vs Canadiens odds make Montreal a -143 favorite, about a 58.8% implied probability. Buffalo’s +120 price works out to roughly 45.5%.

Buffalo +1.5 at -189 (65.4% implied) offers protection at a steep cost, while Montreal -1.5 pays +155, or about a 39.2% chance. The total sits at 6.5 with both sides at -110.

If you’d rather trade the game than bet it, our comparison of prediction market apps covers other ways to take a position.

Sabres vs Canadiens Stats

Sabres vs Canadiens Team Stats

Sabres vs Canadiens Goalies and Injuries

Jacob Fowler is projected to start for Montreal. He’s 2-1-0 with a 1.91 GAA through his first three decisions. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen projects for Buffalo with a 3-2-1 record and 3.52 GAA.

Ivan Demidov, Mike Matheson and Samuel Montembeault did not skate at Montreal’s Friday practice, and their status is unchanged.

For Buffalo, Rasmus Dahlin was reported day-to-day on Tuesday. Josh Norris and Jiri Kulich are also listed day-to-day, and Alex Lyon is listed out.