The Montreal Canadiens bring their three-game winning streak to KeyBank Center as they face the Buffalo Sabres in a crucial Atlantic Division matchup on Saturday night.
Both teams have shown recent offensive firepower, with each squad netting 13 goals in their last three games, though their defensive struggles continue to be a concern as they allow more than three goals per game.
The Canadiens' dynamic duo of Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki, who have combined for 46 goals and 67 assists this season, will look to exploit a Sabres defense that has surrendered seven goals in their last two outings.
Buffalo's offensive threats Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch (49 goals, 47 assists combined) aim to maintain their productive form against Montreal's struggling defensive unit.
While Montreal (28-26-5) has found momentum in their push for a wild card spot, Buffalo (24-28-5) seeks to climb out of the division basement with a strong performance on home ice.
The goaltending battle between Montreal's Samuel Montembeault (.899 save percentage) and Buffalo's Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.894 save percentage) could prove decisive in what promises to be an entertaining hockey contest between these longtime rivals.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Montreal Canadiens prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Buffalo Sabres vs Montreal Canadiens matchup, our predictive model gives the Canadiens a 72.5% chance of defeating the Sabres.
Pre-game probabilities
Montreal Canadiens
Moneyline
Win %
72.5%
27.5%
Buffalo Sabres
Montreal Canadiens: 72.5% win probability
- Better overall record (28 wins vs 24 wins)
- Higher points total (61 points vs 53 points)
- Superior offensive output (176 goals for vs 184 goals against)
Buffalo Sabres: 27.5% win probability
- Poor defensive record (194 goals against)
- Fewer games played (57 vs league average of 59)
- Bottom of Atlantic Division (8th place with only 53 points)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts. Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts..
| Buffalo Sabres | Montreal Canadiens | |
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| Moneyline |
Buffalo Sabres vs. Montreal Canadiens preview
The Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres are set to face off at KeyBank Center in a crucial Atlantic Division matchup that could have playoff implications for both struggling teams.
The Canadiens enter the contest with momentum, riding a three-game winning streak and coming off an impressive 4-0 victory against the Hurricanes, which has helped them climb within striking distance of a wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Montreal's offensive duo of Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki has been electric this season, combining for 46 goals and 67 assists, while emerging defenseman Lane Hutson has been making waves with his contributions from the blue line.
The Sabres, currently sitting at the bottom of the division with a 24-28-5 record, have shown flashes of offensive prowess, led by the dynamic pairing of Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch, who have accumulated 49 goals and 47 assists between them.
Both teams have struggled defensively this season, with Montreal allowing 3.34 goals per game and Buffalo slightly worse at 3.39, setting the stage for what could be a high-scoring affair.
The goaltending battle will feature Montreal's Samuel Montembeault (.899 save percentage) against Buffalo's Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.894 save percentage), with both netminders looking to improve their numbers.
Recent offensive surges from both teams - each scoring 13 goals in their last three games - suggest fans could be in for an entertaining, goal-filled matchup.
While the Sabres will have home-ice advantage at KeyBank Center, the Canadiens' recent momentum and improved offensive chemistry make them slight favorites to extend their winning streak to four games.
Keep an eye on Montreal's Juraj Slafkovsky and Buffalo's JJ Peterka, as both young forwards have been making significant contributions to their respective teams' offensive output in recent games.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Montreal Canadiens form
Buffalo Sabres vs. Montreal Canadiens head to head
Buffalo Sabres
33%
Montreal Canadiens
67%
Dec 18, 2024
Montreal Canadiens
6 : 1
Buffalo Sabres
Nov 11, 2024
Buffalo Sabres
5 : 7
Montreal Canadiens
Feb 22, 2024
Montreal Canadiens
2 : 3
Buffalo Sabres
Jan 5, 2024
Montreal Canadiens
1 : 6
Buffalo Sabres
Dec 10, 2023
Buffalo Sabres
2 : 3
Montreal Canadiens
Oct 23, 2023
Buffalo Sabres
1 : 3
Montreal Canadiens
