Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Preview: Sabres vs Canadiens
The Buffalo Sabres (50-23-9, 24-13-4 on the road) take on the Montreal Canadiens (48-24-10, 24-15-2 at home) at Bell Centre in Game 6 of this second-round Stanley Cup Playoffs series. Montreal leads the series 3-2.
Back a Cagey Encounter
The betting odds of -120 make plenty of appeal when it comes to Under 6.5 goals. We’re expecting the scoring to be fairly slow when the Sabres meet the Canadiens.
Canadiens Too Strong for Sabres in Last H2H
Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens met two nights ago, with Habs enjoying a 6-3 victory at KeyBank Center.
The Habs had 26 shots on goal, with Juraj Slafkovsky bagging 3 points and all of them were assists. The Sabres fired 36 shots on goal, with Konsta Helenius, Jason Zucker and Josh Doan scoring one goal apiece.
Head-to-Head Statistics
The past 10 H2H games have seen the Habs land six wins.
Starting Goalies
Alex Lyon (Expected)
Season
W-L-OTL:
GAA:
SV%:
SO:
24/25
20-10-4
2.8
.906
3
23/24
21-18-4
3.05
.904
2
Jakub Dobes (Expected)
Season
W-L-OTL:
GAA:
SV%:
SO:
24/25
29-10-4
2.8
.901
0
Buffalo Sabres vs Montreal Canadiens Prediction & Picks
We’ve lined up expert Buffalo Sabres vs Montreal Canadiens betting tips, from our match prediction and correct score call to player prop picks and best bet builder advice. Read on for the full breakdown.
Game Prediction
There is an appealing -120 when it comes to Unders which is our confident pick. The lamp might not be lit too many times when it comes to this NHL encounter.
We keep a close eye on the NHL team news and our handicappers stay sharp by tracking the latest form and lineups. You’ll also find a full set of stats that offer valuable insight and help shape smarter hockey predictions ahead of the action.
Key Sabres vs Canadiens stats:
The 6.5 line hasn’t been covered in 7 of the last 10 Sabres games.The 6.5 line hasn’t been covered in 12 of the last 20 Sabres games.The 6.5 line hasn’t been covered in 8 of the last 10 Canadiens games.The 6.5 line hasn’t been covered in 4 of the last 5 Canadiens games at home.Under 6.5 Probability
The odds at the top betting apps suggest our pick has a 54.6% chance of winning. However, our analysts have this figure closer to 60% based on their in-depth research. This hockey bet can therefore be backed with confidence.
Looking for Bigger Odds?
The best sportsbooks will allow you to shoot for bigger odds on your Under bet. By moving the line and going for a lower Total, there’s the chance to get more juice.
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Our Game Prediction
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Disclosure: This preview contains affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. T&Cs apply. We only recommend licensed and regulated operators. See our Editorial Policy. Pick odds and lines reflect the price available at the time of publication (May 16, 00:56). Live market odds are updated regularly and may differ. 18+ (or legal age) | Gamble Responsibly.
Published 00:56, 16 May 2026
Player Prop Picks
Ivan Demidov (Canadiens) has had at least one assist in 3 straight games. We expect him to cover the Player Assists line which means grabbing the attractive +135 about this happening.
Latest Ivan Demidov Player Prop Odds
Goals
Assists
Shots on Goal
Pick odds and lines correct at publication. Live market odds are updated regularly and may differ. T&Cs apply. 18+ (or legal age) | Gamble Responsibly.
Buffalo Sabres vs Montreal Canadiens Odds
The odds and lines below are updated regularly and may differ from the prices shown in our picks, which are captured at the time of publication.
Books Giving Canadiens Plenty of Respect
For this game, the sportsbooks’ Moneyline betting odds mean Montreal Canadiens are -167 favorites to win and that means a 63% chance of landing a victory. Buffalo Sabres are the underdogs at +138 and they’re regarded as least likely to win.
The puck line is 1.5 and the total goals line is currently 6.5. Hockey bettors regularly enjoy the opportunity to wager on Totals. If you’re going for Over 6.5, then the odds are -102.
If you’re wagering on National Hockey League clashes, we recommend heading to the top sportsbooks and scanning through the hundreds of team props and game lines. There’s the opportunity to bet pre-game and in-game.
Cole Caufield is the First Goalscorer Favorite
Player Goals
Cole Caufield (Canadiens)
Tage Thompson (Sabres)
Juraj Slafkovsky (Canadiens)
Nick Suzuki (Canadiens)
Player Assists
Lane Hutson (Canadiens)
Nick Suzuki (Canadiens)
Rasmus Dahlin (Sabres)
Tage Thompson (Sabres)
Player Shots
Tage Thompson (Sabres)
Cole Caufield (Canadiens)
Josh Doan (Sabres)
Rasmus Dahlin (Sabres)
Micro Betting
You don’t have to wait for the final outcome when it comes to NHL micro betting. Instead, there’s the opportunity to wager on live lines which tend to be settled in a shorter space of time and the in-game odds are always changing.
Live market odds and lines updated regularly. All odds subject to change. T&Cs apply. 18+ (or legal age) | Gamble Responsibly.
Team Stats
Latest regular season and playoff games stats.
Buffalo Sabres Stats
Montreal Canadiens Stats
5 wins and 5 defeats in the last 10 games
6 wins and 4 defeats in the last 10 games on the road
6 wins and 4 defeats in the last 10 games
5 wins and 5 defeats in the last 10 home games
+1.5 Betting Line: Have covered the +1.5 puck line in 6 of the last 10 games
+1.5 Betting Line on the Road: Have covered the +1.5 puck line in 7 of the last 10 games on the road
-1.5 Betting Line: Have covered the -1.5 puck line in 3 of the last 10 games
-1.5 Betting Line at Home: Have covered the -1.5 puck line in 1 of the last 10 home games
Game Totals: An average of 5.90 goals in the previous 10 games
Game Totals on the Road: An average of 6.70 goals in the previous 10 games on the road
Over 6.5: Covered in 3 of the previous 10 games
Over 6.5 on the Road: Covered in 5 of the previous 10 games on the road
Team Totals: Have scored an average of 2.90 goals and allowed 3.00 goals in the last 10 games
Team Totals on the Road: Have scored an average of 3.60 pts and allowed 3.10 goals in the last 10 games on the road
Game Totals: An average of 5.30 goals in the previous 10 games
Game Totals at Home: An average of 4.70 goals in the previous 10 home games
Over 6.5: Covered in 2 of the previous 10 games
Over 6.5 at Home: Covered in 3 of the previous 10 home games
Team Totals: Have scored an average of 3.10 goals and allowed 2.20 goals in the last 10 games
Team Totals at Home: Have scored an average of 2.30 goals and allowed 2.40 goals in the last 10 home games
Last 10 Games
Goals Powerplay: 0.6
Shots: 28.3
Goals Shorthanded: 0
Penalties: 6
Empty Net Goals: 0.2
Penalty Minutes: 17.3
Blocks: 16.1
Faceoff Wins : 24.8
Hits: 28.1
Giveaways: 14.4
Takeaways: 4.2
Last 10 Games on the Road
Goals Powerplay: 0.3
Shots: 28.4
Goals Shorthanded: 0
Penalties: 5
Empty Net Goals: 0.3
Penalty Minutes: 14.5
Blocks: 10.9
Faceoff Wins : 28.2
Hits: 22.2
Giveaways: 13.7
Takeaways: 4.8
Last 10 Games
Goals Powerplay: 0.7
Shots: 25.9
Goals Shorthanded: 0
Penalties: 5.7
Empty Net Goals: 0.2
Penalty Minutes: 14.8
Blocks: 15.1
Faceoff Wins : 31
Hits: 33.4
Giveaways: 12.7
Takeaways: 4.4
Last 10 Home Games
Goals Powerplay: 0.6
Shots: 25.7
Goals Shorthanded: 0
Penalties: 6.4
Empty Net Goals: 0.1
Penalty Minutes: 17.6
Blocks: 15.2
Faceoff Wins : 28
Hits: 31.8
Giveaways: 13.4
Takeaways: 3.6
Starting Lineups
Both teams’ confirmed lineups will be published ahead of face-off. There is also the chance to look at the lineups from the previous 10 games.
Expert Analysis by Robert Carter
NHL Analyst
About the Analyst
Our ice hockey previews are produced by a specialised team of analysts, former odds compilers and sports journalists. Picks are research-driven and reviewed for accuracy and editorial consistency under the oversight of our hockey panel and Editor-in-Chief.
NHL Predictions Methodology
Our NHL analysis combines the latest team news, injury reports and line changes with recent form and market movement. We factor in situational analysis like home ice advantage and schedule spots. Metrics such as Corsi, Fenwick, Expected Goals (xG) and PDO are used to evaluate puck possession, shot quality, goaltending performance and special teams efficiency beyond the traditional box score.
Full Methodology & Data Sources
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Transparency & Safety
This preview was last updated on May 16, 04:18 to reflect the latest team news, injury reports, confirmed lines and pairings, starting goaltenders, lineup changes, schedule context, key performance metrics and odds movement.
All analysis is produced by professional analysts and reviewed by our Ice Hockey Editorial Betting Panel for accuracy and consistency.
Historical performance for our game predictions is tracked and updated regularly for transparency.
Important: Betting should be treated as entertainment and involves risk. Past results are not indicative of future performance. Only wager what you can afford to lose.
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