Canadiens vs Sabres Prediction 5/18/26 NHL Picks Today

In this article, we will formulate a Canadiens vs Sabres Prediction for Game 7 of this NHL Eastern Conference Semifinal on Monday, May 18^th. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this NHL matchup.

Buffalo Sabres Preview

The Sabres finished the regular season with 109 points with a 50-23-9 record and were placed 1st in the Atlantic Division. They have a 26-10-5 home record and are coming off an 8-3 road win over the Canadiens.

Offensively, the Sabres are averaging 3.45 goals per game and are scoring 19.5% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 2.93 goals per game and are killing 81.9% of their opponent’s power plays.

Tage Thompson leads the Sabres with 81 points and 40 goals, while Rasmus Dahlin leads the team in assists with 55. Alex Lyon is the starting goalie for the Sabres, and he has a 20-10-4 record, with 2.77 GAA and .907 SV%. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is the backup goalie and he has a 22-9-3 record, with 2.52 GAA and .910 SV%.

Montreal Canadiens Preview

The Canadiens finished the regular season with 106 points with a 48-24-10 record and were placed 3rd in the Atlantic Division. They have a 24-9-8 road record and are coming off an 8-3 home loss to the Sabres.

Offensively, the Canadiens are averaging 3.40 goals per game and are scoring 23.1% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 3.06 goals per game and are killing 78.2% of their opponent’s power plays.

Nick Suzuki leads the Canadiens with 101 points and 72 assists, while Cole Caufield leads the team in goals with 51. Jakub Dobes is the starting goalie for the Canadiens, and he has a 29-10-4 record, with 2.78 GAA and .901 SV%. Samuel Montembeault is the backup goalie and he has a 10-8-4 record, with 3.43 GAA and .872 SV%.

Montreal Canadiens @ Buffalo Sabres Betting Trends: May 18, 2026

Why the Buffalo Sabres will win

• The Sabres have won 22 of their last 27 night games following a road win.
• The Sabres have won the third period in nine of their last 10 games when leading after the second period.

Why the Montreal Canadiens will win

• The Canadiens have won each of their last 10 games as underdogs following a loss.
• The Sabres have lost four of their last five games as home favorites.
• The Canadiens have covered the puck line in each of their last 18 games as road underdogs following a loss.
• The Sabres have failed to cover the puck line in 12 of their last 13 games as home favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
• The Canadiens have won the second period in nine of their last 10 games as underdogs when trailing after the first period.

Total Goals Facts

• Five of the Canadiens’ last six road games against the Sabres following a home loss have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• Seven of the last eight Monday night games between two teams from the Eastern Conference have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• Three of the Sabres’ last four games have gone OVER the total goals line.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2′ market has hit in each of the Sabres’ last 10 games as favorites against the Canadiens.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Canadiens’ last six games.

Buffalo Sabres Player Prop Facts

• Tage Thompson has scored a goal in three of the Sabres’ last four games.
• Rasmus Dahlin has recorded at least one assist in each of the Sabres’ last four games.
• Jason Zucker has scored three goals against the Canadiens this season – equal-most against any opponent.

Montreal Canadiens Player Prop Facts

• Nick Suzuki has scored a goal in each of the Canadiens’ last four road games.
• Lane Hutson has recorded at least one assist in each of the Canadiens’ last five games.
• Cole Caufield ranks 1st in the league for Game Winning Goals (12) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Buffalo Sabres rank 4th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (81.90%).
• The Buffalo Sabres rank 5th in the league for goals per game this season (3.45).
• The Montreal Canadiens rank 7th in the league for goals per game this season (3.40).
• The Montreal Canadiens have recorded the equal-most wins when tied or trailing after Period 1 this season (31).

Canadiens vs Sabres Prediction

Both teams are tied 5-5 in their last 10 meetings but the Canadiens are 3-1 in their last 4 visits in Buffalo. Over is 4-1-1 in their last 6 meetings.

In this Canadiens vs Sabres Prediction, the Sabres are coming as -120 home favorites. It all has come down to this game in this exciting Eastern Conference Semifinal and the Sabres lived to fight another day with a Game 6 win on the road, where they scored 8 goals and forced a game 7 at home. Game 5 and 6 of this series had 9 and 11 total goals and the total today is set at just 5.5 because it is a game 7 and the books automatically assume that it will be a low-scoring battle. But both teams are 5-1 to the over 5.5 in this series and all of their four regular season meetings had more than 5.5 goals. Take the over 5.5 in this one.