The Buffalo Sabres (4-3-1) and Montreal Canadiens (3-3-1) tussle Saturday in Montreal, Quebec. The contest at the Bell Centre will have a 7 p.m. ET (NHL Network) puck drop. Let's analyze NHL odds around the Sabres vs. Canadiens odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: Montreal leads 1-0
Buffalo last played Thursday, defeating the -115 Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4 (Over 6.5) in overtime. D Owen Power scored the winner after the Sabres had erased a 4-2 third-period deficit. RW Jack Quinn collected 2 goals and 2 assists.
The Canadiens played their most recent game Wednesday, falling 5-4 (Over 6.5) at the -115 Washington Capitals as a -105 road favorite. RW Josh Anderson scored twice for Montreal, which suffered a 4-3 shootout
loss to Buffalo the day before.
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Sabres at Canadiens odds
Provided by BetMGM/FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:30 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Sabres +118 (bet $100 to win $118) | Canadiens -145 (bet $145 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Sabres +1.5 (-200) | Canadiens -1.5 (+165)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Sabres at Canadiens projected goalies
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (3-2-1, 3.52 GAA, .854 SV%) vs. Jakub Dobes (1-2-1, 4.64 GAA, .841 SV%)
Luukkonen started Thursday vs. the Leafs and has started each of Buffalo's last 3 games. Against Toronto, he allowed 4 goals while making 26 saves.
Dobes started the contest at Washington and coughed up 5 goals against 18 saves. He has allowed 16 goals over his last 3 starts.
Sabres at Canadiens picks and predictions
Prediction
Sabres 3, Canadiens 2
Moneyline
These clubs met in a second-round Stanley Cup Playoffs series last May, and Montreal prevailed 4-3 in a 7-gamer. In that series, Buffalo took 2 games in Montreal, and the Sabres are 3-1-1 across their last 5 games at the Bell Centre.
Buffalo has filed a poor shooting percentage on its high-danger 5-on-5 looks, and that has somewhat unfairly/unluckily depressed its offensive output. Luukkonen -- who last year logged a .910 SV% -- has a history of slow starts to seasons, and he's off to one this fall. But he has been better over his last 3 appearances and is fronted by a Buffalo defense that has been stingy in yielding high-quality shots from the slot.
Montreal has a strong power play; Buffalo counters with a capable PK.
Peg the SABRES (+118) as a slight lean. Respect some well-made prices and consider going in on a partial-unit basis.
Puck line/Against the spread
No interest; PASS.
Over/Under
Both clubs have been quite good in limiting scoring chances thus far. But that has not showed up in relatively weak 5-on-5 defensive numbers. But drilling down to expected goals allowed, both sides figure as due for better nights in their own end.
Both the Sabres and Canadiens were in need of a bit of rest and got it. Expect a lower-scoring contest on Saturday.
The UNDER 6.5 (-110) has value.
Betting odds calculator
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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Buffalo Sabres at Montreal Canadiens odds, picks and predictions
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