Buffalo Sabres vs Montreal Canadiens Prediction, 10/17/2026 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Buffalo Sabres vs Montreal Canadiens

Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026

Location: Centre Bell in Montreal, QC

TV: MSG Network, TSN2

Odds/Point Spread: Sabres (+114) Canadiens (-135)

The Montreal Canadiens (3-3-1) are welcoming the Buffalo Sabres (4-3-1) at Centre Bell on Saturday. The moneyline on this game has Buffalo at +114 and Montreal is at -135. The total comes in at 6.5.

The Buffalo Sabres came out of this game feeling pretty good about themselves with a 5-4 victory over the Maple Leafs in their previous game. Buffalo accounted for 13 penalty mins for this matchup. They also had 2 power play tries but weren't able to net one. The Sabres had a solid offensive performance in the win. In the game, they tallied a score on 5 out of the 34 shots they put on net.

Get all of our NHL Picks Today

In reference to their scoring capabilities, the Buffalo Sabres have racked up 24 goals (13th in the National Hockey League) so far this year and have given up 29. For the current campaign, they have scored 9 points and their points % is .563. Buffalo has accumulated 29 power play chances and they have scored 3 goals out of those tries, giving them a percentage of 10.34%. At even strength, the Sabres have given up 19 goals while scoring 21 as an offensive unit. Buffalo has taken 214 shots and has a shot percentage of 11.2%. The Sabres so far have had 197 shots tried against them and have earned a save percentage of .853. Buffalo Sabres opponents have tallied 26 power play tries (11th in professional hockey) and have racked up 10 goals in those chances.

The man protecting the net in this game is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Opponents have tallied 558 goals versus Luukkonen in his NHL career and his average for goals against per game is 2.94. Luukkonen has been in net for 196 matchups throughout his NHL career. His save percentage currently is .899 during his 10,925 mins in the crease. He has a mark of 96-76-19 and he has gotten the start in 190 games. In his professional hockey career, Luukkonen has accumulated 103 quality starts and his quality starts rate sits at .542. Luukkonen has had 5,507 shot attempts taken against him and has recorded 4,951 total saves.

In their last game, Montreal played the Capitals in a matchup where the Canadiens took the defeat by a final score of 5-4. The Canadiens earned 4 goals out of the 30 shots on goal they were seeking. They had 2 power play attempts in this matchup and scored 1 out of those chances.

Montreal has tried 199 shots (16th in the league) and has a shot percentage of 10.55%, while allowing the other team 181 shots. They have a penalty kill rate of 80.00% on their opponents 30 power play chances, and their save percentage sits at 85.1%. They have a total of 22 chances on the power play and they have a power play percentage of 13.64%. The Canadiens have earned 18 goals at even strength and 3 goals (24th in the NHL) while having more men on the ice. They have allowed 27 goals to be scored by of a combination of 21 goals at even strength and 6 goals while they were shorthanded. On the campaign, the Montreal Canadiens have 21 goals, 7 points, and a points percentage of .500.

On the other side of the ice you are likely to see Jakub Dobes in the crease. Dobes has accrued a lifetime mark of 37-16-8 and has participated in 63 games. Dobes' percentage of quality starts comes out to 59.0% and he has made 36 quality starting assignments in his pro career. He has a tally of 1,566 stops out of 1,741 shots attempted, giving him a save percentage of .899. His opposition is averaging 2.87 goals/game and he has allowed 175 goals overall. He has started in 61 games and has played 151 minutes.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Guy's Pick: Take Buffalo (+114)

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Get NHL picks on every single game, or if you want our very best bets by the experts, sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee.