NHL Preview, Odds, And Prediction: Buffalo Sabres vs Montreal Canadiens

Two teams jockeying for a postseason position in the Eastern Conference battle it out on ice Thursday as the Buffalo Sabres host the Montreal Canadiens inside the KeyBank Center in New York.

The squads are figuring in a slugfest at the Atlantic Division, tied in wins with 22 each and total points with 51. The Sabres are at the fifth spot of the division with just a single loss removed from the tallied defeats of the sixth-placed Canadiens.

The match-up is fairly squared that it also reflects the updated NHL odds with each team priced pick’em in the money line market.

Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres had a forgettable night on Tuesday when they got obliterated by the visiting Ottawa Senators, 5-2. Coming off the All-Star break, it was not quite the performance expected of Buffalo especially that they are still in pursuit of a playoff spot.

Good news for them, though, is that the team is still scheduled to play eight more games at home in their next nine assignments. But they have to withstand their next battles on ice playing minus their prized goalie Linus Ullmark who is out for at least three weeks due to a knee injury he suffered on Tuesday.

Montreal Canadiens

Montreal got served with a reality check on Monday when league-leading Washington Capitals stamped their class on the Canadiens, 4-2.

However, this does not take away the fact the team had performed well before the All-Star break where they won four of their last five outings.

Reports say that Brendan Gallagher is likely to return for this match. The right-wing prolific scorer remains the No. 2 goal scorer of the team with 15; thus, his comeback will definitely help the cause of Montreal in this crucial Atlantic showdown.

Odds and Trends

Pick'em prices offered for both teams in the money line market. The total line is barely even at O/U six goals.

Sabres are 5-2 in their last 7 games as a home underdog and 1-5 in their last 6 games following a home loss of 3 or more goals.

Canadiens are 12-4 in their last 16 when their opponent allows 5 goals or more in their previous game and 17-8 in their last 25 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.

Over is 3-1-1 in Sabres last 5 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game and 7-3 in Canadiens last 10 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.

Under is 12-3-1 in Sabres last 16 following a loss of 3 or more goals and 10-1 in Canadiens last 11 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.

Prediction

Money line: Canadiens

Total: Over