Montreal Canadiens vs Buffalo Sabres Prediction, 5/8/2026 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Montreal Canadiens vs Buffalo Sabres

Date: Friday, May 8, 2026

Location: KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY

TV: TNT

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

KeyBank Center is where the Buffalo Sabres (50-23-9) will compete against the Montreal Canadiens (48-24-10) on Friday in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Buffalo leads 1-0. The odds on this game have Montreal at +114 and Buffalo is sitting at -135. The total is set at 5.5.

The Montreal Canadiens will need a bounce back game after taking a 4-2 defeat against the Sabres in Game 1. Montreal accumulated 6 penalty minutes in this contest. Moreover, they had 2 attempts on the power play and were able to notch 1 goal. The Canadiens offense left a lot to be desired in the defeat. For the game, they converted 2 of the 28 shots they put on net.

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Concerning their scoring, the Montreal Canadiens have notched 279 goals (7th in the NHL) over the course of the season and have given up 251. For the season, they have scored 106 points and their points % is .646. Montreal steps onto the ice with 242 power play chances and they have added 56 goals out of those attempts, garnering them a rate of 23.14%. While playing at even strength, the Canadiens have allowed 197 goals while scoring 223 of their own. Montreal has taken 2,156 shots and has a shooting percentage of 12.9%. The Canadiens thus far have had 2,283 shots attempted against them and hold a save percentage of .890. Montreal Canadiens opponents have amassed 248 power play tries (8th in the league) and have scored 54 goals in those attempts.

The man in net for this game is Jakub Dobes. Dobes has been in net for 59 games throughout his NHL career. He has earned a win-loss record of 36-14-7 and he has started in 57 games. Opponents have notched 157 goals versus Dobes in his career and his goals against average per game is 2.75. Dobes has seen 1,627 shots taken against him and he has 1,470 saves. His save percentage is .904 in his 953 minutes guarding the cage. For his professional hockey career, Dobes has 35 quality starts and his rate for quality starts is .614.

Buffalo played an impressive Game 1 on both sides of the ice. They had 3 power play chances in this contest and scored 2 out of those chances. The Sabres recorded 4 goals out of the 16 shots on goal they tried.

Over the course of the season, the Buffalo Sabres are sitting with 283 goals, 109 points, in addition to a points percentage of .665. They have allowed 240 goals to be scored by way of 198 goals at even strength and 42 goals while they were shorthanded. The Sabres have earned 235 goals at even strength and 48 goals (18th in hockey) while having a power play advantage. They have a tally of 246 power play opportunities and they have accumulated a power play percentage of 19.51%. Buffalo has taken 2,307 shots (13th in the league) and has earned a shot percentage of 12.27%, while allowing the opposition 2,381 shots. They have recorded a penalty kill rate of 81.90% on their opponents 232 tries on the power play, and their save percentage currently sits at 89.9%.

On the other side of the ice you are going to see Alex Lyon patrolling the crease. The opposition is averaging 2.95 goals per contest and he has surrendered 395 goals altogether. Lyon's quality start rate sits at 55.2% and he has 74 quality starting assignments in his hockey career. He has made the start in 134 games and has accumulated 6,072 minutes. Lyon has compiled a career record of 71-48-15 and has played in 149 games. He has tallied 3,670 stops out of 4,065 shots taken, giving him a save percentage of .903.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Buffalo (-135)

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