Buffalo Sabres vs. Montreal Canadiens Free Preview

Jack Eichel, Jeff Skinner, and the Buffalo Sabres will do battle against Max Domi, Tomas Tatar, and the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre in an Atlantic Division showdown. The Sports Network will showcase the matchup, and the opening face-off takes place at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 8.

Buffalo Sabres at Montreal Canadiens Odds

Montreal comes into the game as the favorite with a moneyline of -135. The line for Buffalo sits at +115 and the Over/Under (O/U) is placed at 6 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -110 money on the over and -110 on the under.

Netting moneyline bettors 2.9 units, Montreal is 8-7 straight up (SU) overall this year. That early-season winning percentage is a welcomed turnaround from how the team performed during the 2017-18 season (29-53). Of the team’s 15 games this season, seven have gone over the total, while another seven have gone under and just one has pushed. The team’s 5-3 SU at home thus far.

The Canadiens have converted on just 15.5 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that’s ranked 24th overall in the NHL. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked seventh overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 83.3 percent of all penalties.

Averaging 25.5 saves per game with a .901 save percentage, Carey Price (5-6-2) has been the top goalkeeper for Montreal this year. If the Habs, however, choose to give him a breather, the team may go with Antti Niemi (3-1-1 record, .893 save percentage, 3.13 goals against average).

Over on the visiting bench, Buffalo is 7-8 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 0.1 units this season. Eight of its outings have gone over the total, while six have gone under the total and just one has pushed. The Sabres are 3-5 SU as the visiting team this season.

The Sabres have converted on 19.6 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 21st overall and it’s successfully killed off 77.8 percent of all penalties.

Carter Hutton (.909 save percentage and 2.87 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Buffalo. Hutton is averaging 28.3 saves per game and has four wins, seven losses, and one OT loss to his credit.

Buffalo Sabres at Montreal Canadiens Betting Predictions

Pick: SU Winner – Sabres, O/U – Over

Betting Trends

After going 2-6 in games decided by a shootout last year, the Canadiens are off to a 2-0 start in shootouts this season. The Sabres were 1-2 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.

For both of these teams, the game went over the total in three of their last five outings.

This game features two clubs that shoot the puck early and often. Buffalo has taken the league’s ninth-most shots on goal (32.9) and Montreal has attempted the eighth-most (33.2).

The Habs this season have tallied the third-most hits per game in the NHL (27.7), but the team’s averaged 30.8 over their past five home games.