Buffalo Sabres vs Montreal Canadiens Betting Pick & Prediction 3/3/25
Don’t miss out on the NHL showdown between the Sabres and Canadiens. The game is starting at 7:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Canadiens at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under goal line for this matchup is currently at 6 goals, and the Canadiens are favored by -1.5 vs. the Sabres.
BUFFALO SABRES VS MONTREAL CANADIENS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Montreal Canadiens -1.5
This game will be played at Bell Centre at 7:00 ET on Monday, March 3rd.
WHY BET THE MONTREAL CANADIENS:
- Coming in as 1.5 goal favorites, our projections have the Canadiens picking up a 4-3 win.
- Take the Canadiens on the moneyline
- On the spread, we like Sabres (+1.5)
Can the Sabres Grab a Win on the Road?
Buffalo’s record dropped to 24-29-5 after a 2-1 loss to the Red Wings. The Sabres were underdogs on the puck line, and the total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, but the teams combined for just 3.
Alex Tuch put the Sabres ahead with a short-handed goal in the first period, but the Red Wings responded with two goals in the second to secure the win. Buffalo failed to register an assist in the game.
Buffalo’s offense struggled in their 2-1 loss to Detroit, with Alex Tuch scoring the team’s only goal on a shorthanded effort in the first period. The Sabres fired 32 shots on goal but were unable to find the net again.
Buffalo had 13 giveaways and failed to convert on any power play opportunities. Tuch took 5 shots on goal, including his 5th goal of the season.
Defensively, the Sabres held the Red Wings scoreless in the first and third periods, but they gave up two power-play goals in the second, which proved to be the difference in the game. Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 21 saves with a 91.3% save percentage, while the defense recorded 5 takeaways and 17 hits.
Is A Home Victory Likely for the Favored Canadiens?
Montreal dropped to 29-26-5 after a 3-1 road loss to the Penguins. The Canadiens were underdogs on the puck line, and the total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score of 4 fell short of that mark.
The Penguins took a 2-0 lead before Christian Dvorak scored Montreal’s only goal at 14:28 in the third period. Pittsburgh added an empty-netter to seal the win.
Montreal managed 26 shots on goal but only found the net once in their 3-1 loss to Pittsburgh. Christian Dvorak scored his first goal of the season at 14:28 in the third period. Emil Heineman picked up his first assist of the year, while Juraj Slafkovsky added his seventh assist.
The Canadiens were held scoreless through the first two periods before Dvorak’s goal. They recorded 20 offensive giveaways, contributing to their struggles in generating offense.
Defensively, the Canadiens gave up the first two goals of the game, with both coming from Sidney Crosby. The first was scored at 15:57 in the first period, and the second was a power-play goal at 18:40 in the second. After cutting the deficit to 2-1, Montreal allowed an empty-net goal with just 45 seconds remaining in the third period. Goalie Sam Montembeault made 21 saves with a 91.3% save percentage, while the Canadiens’ defense recorded 4 takeaways and 28 hits.