Buffalo Sabres vs Montreal Canadiens Prediction 5/8/26 NHL Picks Today

The Montreal Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres meet Friday in NHL action from the KeyBank Center. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres prediction.

Montreal Canadiens Recap

The Montreal Canadiens come into this game looking to bounce back from their loss at the hands of the Sabres in game one by a final score of 4-2.

Canadiens Looking To Steal Home Ice

Nick Suzuki leads Montreal with 101 points including 29 goals and 72 assists while Cole Caufield has 88 points with a team-high 51 goals and 37 assists. Lane Hutson has 78 points with 66 assists while Ivan Demidov has 62 points with 19 goals and 43 assists. Noah Dobson has 47 points with 35 assists and Mike Matheson has 37 points with 7 goals and 30 assists. Oliver Kapanen has 37 points with 22 goals and 15 assists while Zack Bolduc has 30 points with 12 goals and 18 assists. Juraj Slafkovsky also has 73 points with 30 goals and 43 assists. Sam Montembault has gone 10-8-4 with a 3.43 GAA and an .872 save percentage in goal for the Canadiens while Jakub Dobes is 29-10-4 with a 2.78 GAA and a .901 save percentage. Jacob Fowler is also 8-6-2 with a 2.52 GAA and an .904 save percentage for the Habs this season.

Buffalo Sabres Recap

The Buffalo Sabres come into this game looking to add on to their opening win over Montreal last time out to start the series on the right foot.

Sabres Looking For Early 2-0 Lead

Tage Thompson leads the Sabres in scoring with 81 points coming on a team-high 40 goals and 41 assists while Alex Tuch has 66 points with 33 goals and 33 assists and Rasmus Dahlin has 74 points with a team-high 55 assists. Josh Doan has 52 points with 25 goals and 27 assists and Ryan McLeod has 54 points with 14 goals and 40 assists. Bowen Byram has 42 points with 11 goals and 31 assists while Jack Quinn’s added 51 points with 20 goals and 31 assists this season. Alex Lyon has gone 20-10-4 with a 2.77 GAA and a .907 save percentage in goal for Buffalo while Colten Ellis is 8-4-2 with a 2.90 GAA and a .903 save percentage so far this season. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has gone 22-9-3 with a 2.52 GAA and a .910 save percentage up to this point in the year.

Montreal Canadiens @ Buffalo Sabres Betting Trends: May 8, 2026

Why the Buffalo Sabres will win

• The Sabres have won eight of their last 10 games against Eastern Conference opponents.
• The Canadiens have lost each of their last three Game 2s of a playoff series.
• The Sabres have covered the puck line in four of their last five games.
• The Canadiens have failed to cover the puck line in five of their last six night games at KeyBank Center following a road loss.
• The Sabres have won the third period in eight of their last nine 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 road loss.
• The Sabres have lost five of their last seven games as home favorites following a home win.
• The Canadiens have covered the puck line in each of their last 12 games as underdogs against opponents on a winning streak.
• The Sabres have failed to cover the puck line in 10 of their last 11 games as home favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
• The Canadiens have won the second period in eight of their last nine games as underdogs when trailing after the first period.

Total Goals Facts

• Each of the Sabres’ last eight Friday night games at KeyBank Center have gone OVER the total goals line.
• Eight of the last nine night games between two teams from the Atlantic Division have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• Six of the Canadiens’ last seven games have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2′ market has hit in each of the Sabres’ last eight games as favorites against the Canadiens.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Canadiens’ last four games as underdogs against opponents on a winning streak.

Buffalo Sabres Player Prop Facts

• Josh Doan has scored a goal in three of his four previous home appearances against the Canadiens.
• Rasmus Dahlin has recorded an assist in five of his last six appearances with the Sabres as favorites against the Canadiens.
• Zach Benson has recorded four assists against the Canadiens this season – equal-most against any opponent.

Montreal Canadiens Player Prop Facts

• Cole Caufield has scored at least one goal in four of the Canadiens’ last five road games against the Sabres.
• Nick Suzuki has recorded at least one assist in eight of the Canadiens’ last nine games against the Sabres.
• 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 are one of only three teams with two or more players to record at least 60 assists this season (Nick Suzuki, Lane Hutson).

Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres Prediction

I’m on the Sabres in this one. Montreal off of a loss and on the road in the playoffs and since the olympic break if you want to go even further back, have been absolute money. However, the Sabres at home are just a different beast and honestly are not a team I’m looking to step in front of right now. I think Montreal puts up a fight but I think the Sabres pick up another W at home. Give me Buffalo.