Buffalo Sabres vs Montreal Canadiens Prediction, 5/12/2026 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Buffalo Sabres vs Montreal Canadiens

Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Location: Bell Centre in Montreal, QC

TV: ESPN

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

The Buffalo Sabres (50-23-9) are headed to Bell Centre on Tuesday where they will attempt to beat the Montreal Canadiens (48-24-10) in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Montreal leads 2-1. The line on this matchup has the Sabres at +114 and the Canadiens are at -135. The total has been set at 6.5.

The Buffalo Sabres had 6-2 loss to the Canadiens in Game 3. Buffalo had 42 minutes in the box in this contest. The Sabres left a lot to be desired in terms of their offense in this defeat. They also had 4 power play opportunities and were able to score 1 goal. In the game, they tallied a score on 2 out of the 28 shots they put on net.

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When playing at even strength, the Sabres have given up 198 goals while getting 235 on the offensive side of the ice. Buffalo Sabres opponents have 232 power play tries (19th in professional hockey) and have scored 42 goals in those attempts. Pertaining to their scoring capabilities, the Buffalo Sabres have accumulated 283 goals (5th in the league) on the campaign and have surrendered 240. Buffalo has tried 2,307 shots and is the owner of a shooting percentage of 12.3%. For the season, they have scored 109 points and their points percentage comes in at .665. The Sabres so far have had 2,381 shots attempted against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .899. Buffalo skates onto the rink with 246 power play opportunities and they have added 48 goals during those advantages, garnering them a rate of 19.51%.

The player between the pipes for this game is Alex Lyon. Opponents have been able to score 395 goals against Lyon in his professional hockey career and his goals against average is 2.95. Lyon has been in net for 149 games over the course of his professional hockey career. He has a save percentage of .903 in his 6,072 minutes played. He has amassed a mark of 71-48-15 and he has started in 134 games. From the beginning of his pro career to now, Lyon has 74 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is at .552. Lyon has seen 4,065 shots taken against him and has recorded 3,670 total saves.

Montreal dominated on both sides of the ice in Game 3. They had 6 attempts on the power play in this outing and tallied 2 out of those attempts. The Canadiens recorded 6 goals out of the 36 shots on goal they took.

This season, the Montreal Canadiens have notched a total of 279 goals, 106 points, in addition to a points percentage of .646. They have granted a total of 251 goals to be scored by way of 197 goals at even strength and 54 goals while they were shorthanded. The Canadiens have tallied 223 goals at even strength and 56 goals (7th in professional hockey) while on the power play. They have a total of 242 chances on the power play and they have a power play percentage of 23.14%. Montreal has taken 2,156 shots (24th in the league) and has accumulated a shot percentage of 12.94%, while allowing their opponents 2,283 shots. They have earned a penalty kill rate of 78.23% on their oppositions 248 power play opportunities, and their save percentage is 89.0%.

Across the ice you will find Jakub Dobes patrolling the crease. His opponents are averaging 2.75 goals/game and he has allowed 157 goals altogether. Dobes' quality start rate comes in at 61.4% and he has earned 35 quality starting assignments in his career. He has started in 57 games and has played 953 mins. Dobes is the owner of a career mark of 36-14-7 and has played in 59 games. He has recorded 1,470 saves out of 1,627 shots tried, giving him a save percentage of .904.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Buffalo (+114)

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