Sabres vs Canadiens Prediction 3/1/25 NHL Picks Today

The Montreal Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres meet Saturday 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.

Matchup History

The Montreal Canadiens have won both meetings this season with Buffalo by a combined score of 13-6 after a 6-1 win in Montreal back on December 17^th, 2024.The win gave Montreal 7 wins in the last 10 head-to-head meetings between these two teams.

Montreal Canadiens Recap

The Montreal Canadiens come into this game will be out to build on their 4-3 OT win over San Jose last time out to improve to 28-26-5 on the year. After this game, Montreal will head home for the second leg of the home-and-home between these two teams.

Canadiens Win Three In A Row

Nick Suzuki has a team-high 57 points with 16 goals and a team-high 41 assists while Cole Caufield has 51 points with a team-high 27 goals. Mike Matheson has 21 assists while Juraj Slafkovsky has 32 points with 22 assists and Lane Hutson has 39 assists as well on the year. Brendan Gallagher has 25 points with 15 goals while Jake Evans has 27 points with 11 goals and 16 assists. In goal for Montreal, Sam Montembeault has gone 20-21-3 with a 2.90 GAA and an .899 save percentage while Cayden Primeau is 2-3-1 with a 4.70 GAA and an .836 save percentage this season. Jakub Dobes is also 5-2-1 with a 2.71 GAA and a .908 save percentage as well on the year.

Why the Montreal Canadiens will win

• The underdogs have won each of the Canadiens’ last seven games at KeyBank Center.
• The Sabres have lost six of their last eight games as favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
• The Canadiens have covered the puck line in each of their last 11 games as road underdogs against the Sabres.
• The Sabres have failed to cover the puck line in seven of their last eight games as favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.

Montreal Canadiens Player Prop Facts

• Brendan Gallagher has scored a goal in three of the Canadiens’ last four night games at KeyBank Center.
• Nick Suzuki has recorded at least one assist in each of the Canadiens’ last six Saturday night games.
• Cole Caufield has recorded at least one point in 14 of the Canadiens’ last 16 games as road underdogs.
• Lane Hutson ranks 1st amongst rookies for average time on ice (22:27) this season.

Buffalo Sabres Recap

The Buffalo Sabres come into this game looking to bounce back from a 5-2 loss at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes last time out to slip to 24-28-5 on the year. After this game, Buffalo will head to Montreal for the rematch against the Canadiens as the first leg of an upcoming back-to-back.

Sabres Looking To Respond After Crushing Loss

Tage Thompson leads the Sabres with 51 points including a team-leading 28 goals along with 23 assists while Alex Tuch is right behind with 45 points including 21 goals and 24 assists. JJ Peterka has 44 points with 17 goals and 27 assists and Rasmus Dahlin has 46 points with 9 goals and 37 assists. Jason Zucker’s also added 44 points with 18 goals and 26 assists. Devon Levi has gone 2-7 in net for the Sabres with a 4.12 GAA and an .872 save percentage while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is 20-16-4 with a 3.01 GAA and an .894 save percentage as well on the year. James Reimer is 2-5-1 with a 2.53 GAA and a .911 save percentage.

Why the Buffalo Sabres will win

• The home team has won each of the Sabres’ last 10 games.
• The Canadiens have lost six of their last seven road games following an overtime win.
• The Sabres have covered the puck line in seven of their last eight games following a road loss.
• The Canadiens have failed to cover the puck line in eight of their last 10 games.

Buffalo Sabres Player Prop Facts

• Tage Thompson has scored at least one goal in each of the Sabres’ last four games as home favorites against Atlantic Division opponents.
• Rasmus Dahlin has recorded at least one assist in eight of his last nine appearances with the Sabres as favorites against Atlantic Division opponents.
• Tage Thompson has recorded at least one point in each of his last nine appearances with the Sabres as home favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
• Ryan McLeod ranks 1st amongst qualified Eastern Conference players for shooting percentage (24.1%) this season.

Total Goals Facts

• Each of the last eight games between two teams from the Atlantic Division have gone OVER the total goals line.
• Each of the Sabres’ last six games at KeyBank Center against opponents on a winning streak have gone OVER the total goals line.
• Six of the Canadiens’ last seven road games after coming off overtime have gone OVER the total goals line.

Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres Prediction

I’m on Montreal in this one. I know the Sabres have been playing well, especially at home over the last couple of weeks surrounding the four nations face off break. However, this spot sets up as a Montreal spot the entire way. The underdog and road team has had the bulk of the success between these two teams, and Montreal’s also had the upper hand as well in meetings not just this year but going back a couple of seasons now. I think Montreal just has Buffalo’s number. Give me Montreal here.