The Buffalo Sabres (22-21-7) are trying to bounce back from back-to-back losses as they host the Montreal Canadiens (22-22-7) at KeyBank Center for a 7 p.m. ET puck drop. We analyze the Canadiens-Sabres odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips around this matchup.
Canadiens at Sabres: Projected starting goalies
Carey Price vs. Carter Hutton
Price lost his last start against the Washington Capitals, 4-2, after winning his previous four games. The loss sent Price to 20-17-4 on the season with a .909 save percentage and a 2.85 goals against average.
Hutton draws Thursday’s start with Linus Ullmark out with injury. He has lost his past 11 starts, allowing an average of 4.27 goals per game in those appearances. Hutton is 6-7-4 with a .892 SV% and 3.31 GAA.
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Canadiens at Sabres: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 3 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Canadiens 4, Sabres 3
Moneyline (ML)
Despite the Canadiens and Sabres nearly identical records—they are tied at 51 points and both 10 points behind the second wild-card seed—Montreal (-121) is rightfully a slight favorite and the Canadiens are the right side here. The biggest discrepancy between the two clubs is in the Corsi (percentage of total shot attempts) rankings: Montreal ranks third in Corsi for percentage and Buffalo is 21st.
The Habs are a much better road team compared to home. They are 12-9-3, while scoring 3.38 goals and allowing 3.04 goals per game on the road. The favorite has fared better in recent Canadiens-Sabres games; the team favored is 7-1 in the last eight meetings. Plus, the Canadiens are facing the much weaker Sabres goalie in this matchup. Hutton ranks 64th in GAA, 65th in save % and 58th in quality start percentage.
BET CANADIENS (-121) on the moneyline. New to sports betting? Bet $121 on the Canadiens to earn $100 if they win outright.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
Let’s PASS on the puck line in Canadiens-Sabres because of how even these two teams are. We already mentioned their records but another interesting tidbit is eight of their last 10 meetings have been decided by a single goal, including five games going to overtime or a shootout.
Over/Under (O/U)
Since both goalies are having seasons to forget and the Over is 4-1 in the last five meetings, I’d TAKE OVER 5.5 (-125). We already discussed Hutton’s issues but Price has been one of the worst regular starters in the NHL. Price ranks 31st in goals against average, 37th in SV%, and has allowed more goals than any other goalie in the NHL.
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