- Matchup: Buffalo Sabres vs Montreal Canadiens
- Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
- Venue: Centre Bell, Montreal, QC
- Broadcast: MSG Network, TSN2
- Betting Odds: Sabres (+114) Canadiens (-135)
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This Saturday, the Montreal Canadiens (3-3-1) will host the Buffalo Sabres (4-3-1) at Centre Bell. The current moneyline has the Sabres at +114 and the Canadiens at -135, with a total set at 6.5 goals.
The Buffalo Sabres are coming off a satisfying 5-4 win against the Maple Leafs. In that game, Buffalo accrued 13 penalty minutes and had 2 power play opportunities but failed to capitalize. The Sabres showcased a strong offensive effort, finding the net 5 times on 34 shots.
So far this season, the Sabres have tallied 24 goals, ranking 13th in the NHL, while allowing 29 goals. Buffalo currently sits at 9 points with a points percentage of .563. They have had 29 power play opportunities, scoring 3 goals for a conversion rate of 10.34%. While at even strength, the Sabres have let in 19 goals but managed to score 21 of their own. With a total of 214 shot attempts, they maintain a shooting percentage of 11.2%. Conversely, they have faced 197 shots against them, achieving a save percentage of .853. Opponents have had 26 power play chances against them, ranking 11th in the league, converting 10 of those into goals.
In goal for Buffalo will be Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Throughout his NHL career, Luukkonen has faced 558 goals, giving him a goals-against average of 2.94. He has played in 196 NHL games, with a current save percentage of .899 over 10,925 minutes played. Luukkonen’s career record stands at 96 wins, 76 losses, and 19 ties, and he has had 190 starts with 103 quality starts, yielding a quality start percentage of .542. He has encountered 5,507 shots against, successfully saving 4,951 of them.
In their last outing, the Montreal Canadiens suffered a close 5-4 loss to the Capitals. The Canadiens managed 4 goals on 30 shots and converted 1 out of their 2 power play opportunities.
This season, Montreal has fired 199 shots (16th in the NHL), maintaining a shooting percentage of 10.55% and allowing 181 shots against. They hold an 80.00% penalty kill rate against 30 power play opportunities, and their save percentage is at 85.1%. With a total of 22 power play opportunities, their successful conversion rate is 13.64%. The Canadiens have found the net 18 times at even strength and have scored 3 power play goals, ranking 24th in the NHL. Overall, they have conceded 27 goals, with 21 at even strength and 6 while short-handed. Currently, Montreal has netted 21 goals and holds 7 points, acquiring a points percentage of .500.
In net for the Canadiens is expected to be Jakub Dobes, who boasts a career record of 37-16-8 across 63 games. His quality start rate is an impressive 59.0%, having achieved 36 quality starts in his professional journey. With a save percentage of .899, Dobes has made 1,566 saves out of 1,741 shots faced. He has allowed an average of 2.87 goals per game, conceding a total of 175 goals overall. In his career, he has started in 61 games and played for 151 minutes.
Who will secure the win in this exciting NHL matchup?
Pick: Opt for Buffalo (+114)
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