Montreal Canadiens vs Buffalo Sabres Betting Pick & Prediction for Game 1 on 5/6
The Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres are set to begin their playoff series. This is Game 1 in a best-of-7 series. The game will be at the KeyBank Center on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at 7:00 PM. Fans can watch the game on TNT.
The Canadiens come into this series after a 4-3 record in their last playoff round. They performed better on the road with a 3-1 record. The Sabres also had a strong playoff showing, ending their last series with a 4-2 record. They were undefeated in away games with a 3-0 record.
Canadiens vs Sabres Game Day Info
- Sport: NHL
- Teams: Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres
- Venue: KeyBank Center
- Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2026
- Betting Odds: Buffalo Sabres MoneyLine -126, Montreal Canadiens MoneyLine +108
Montreal Canadiens Team Preview
The Montreal Canadiens have shown strong performances in their recent games. They won against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 with a score of 2-1. Jakub Dobes was crucial, making 28 saves on 29 shots.
In the postseason, the Canadiens have been solid in defense. They lead in hits with 300 and blocks with 126. Their faceoff wins rank second with 219.
Top players like Nick Suzuki and Lane Hutson have been key contributors. Suzuki has 6 points with 1 goal and 5 assists. Hutson has added 2 goals and 4 assists in the postseason.
Buffalo Sabres Team Preview
The Buffalo Sabres are heading into the next game with some strong performances in their recent postseason games. They secured a win against the Boston Bruins with a score of 4-1 in their last outing. The team recorded 26 shots on goal, and Alex Lyon made 25 saves in that game.
In the postseason, the Sabres have scored 20 goals, placing them 6th overall. Their assist tally stands at 33, which ranks 5th. However, the team has struggled with power play goals, recording only one.
Key players for the Sabres include Alex Tuch and Tage Thompson, both leading in points with seven each. Alex Lyon has been solid in the net with three wins in five games. As the series continues, the Sabres look to build on their performance and advance further in the playoffs.
BTB Betting Pick
The Buffalo Sabres are favored to win with a moneyline of -126. They have scored more goals and taken more shots than the Canadiens. The Sabres’ goaltending stats are solid, allowing fewer goals, which supports picking them to win with a projected score of Buffalo 3, Montreal 2.
The over/under line is set at 5.5. Montreal’s games have been high-scoring with strong offensive stats. Buffalo also has a good scoring record, so taking the over at -123 is recommended, with a total projected score of 5.