Montreal Canadiens vs Buffalo Sabres Prediction, 5/6/2026 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Montreal Canadiens vs Buffalo Sabres

Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Location: KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY

TV: TNT

Odds/Point Spread: Canadiens (+110) Sabres (-130)

The Buffalo Sabres (50-23-9) will go up against the Montreal Canadiens (48-24-10) at KeyBank Center on Wednesday in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The moneyline on this game has the Canadiens at +110 and the Sabres are sitting at -130. The total is 5.5.

The Montreal Canadiens closed out their series with the Lightning with a 2-1 victory. Montreal accumulated 6 penalty minutes in this game. Furthermore, they had 2 power play attempts but weren't able to net one. The Canadiens could have played much better offensively in the win. In the game, they tallied a score on 2 out of the 9 shots they put on net.

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When at even strength, the Canadiens have surrendered 197 goals while earning 223 themselves. Montreal Canadiens opponents have 248 power play opportunities (8th in pro hockey) and have come away with 54 goals in those chances. In relation to their goal scoring prowess, the Montreal Canadiens have notched 279 goals (7th in pro hockey) this season and have given up 251. Montreal has attempted 2,156 shots and has a shot percentage of 12.9%. For the season, they have 106 points and their points percentage is sitting at .646. The Canadiens have had 2,283 shots taken against them and hold a save percentage of .890. Montreal has accounted for 242 power play chances and they have tallied 56 goals out of those attempts, giving them a rate of 23.14%.

The man in net for this game is Jakub Dobes. Over the course of his time in hockey, Dobes has compiled 35 quality starts and his percentage for quality starts is .614. His save percentage is .904 for his 953 mins between the pipes. Dobes has had 1,627 shots taken against him and has recorded 1,470 total saves. Opponents have racked up 157 goals against Dobes in his career and his goals against average per game is 2.75. He has compiled a record of 36-14-7 and he started in 57 games. Dobes has taken the ice for 59 games during his pro hockey career.

Buffalo closed out their series with the Bruins by a final score of 4-1. The Sabres recorded 4 goals out of the 26 shots on goal they were seeking. They had 4 power play chances in this outing but didn't score a goal.

Buffalo has tried 2,307 shots (13th in professional hockey) and has earned a shooting percentage of 12.27%, while allowing the opposition 2,381 shots. They have a penalty kill percentage of 81.90% on the other teams 232 power play chances, and their save percentage currently sits at 89.9%. They have earned 246 power play opportunities and they have accumulated a power play percentage of 19.51%. The Sabres have racked up 235 goals at even strength and 48 goals (18th in the league) while having more men on the ice. They have granted a total of 240 goals to be scored by of a combination of 198 goals at even strength and 42 goals while they had less men on the ice. So far this year, the Buffalo Sabres have earned a total of 283 goals, 109 points, as well as a points percentage of .665.

Across the ice you are going to see Alex Lyon protecting the net. He has racked up 3,670 saves out of the 4,065 shots tried, which gives him a save percentage of .903. Lyon is sitting with a lifetime record of 71-48-15 and has been in net for 149 contests. He has started in 134 games and has played 6,072 minutes. Lyon's quality start rate comes out to 55.2% and he has earned 74 quality starts in his NHL career. The opposition is averaging 2.95 goals/game and he has relinquished 395 goals overall.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Buffalo (-130)

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