A key battle on the NHL odds menu sees visiting Montreal duelling Buffalo on Thursday at First Niagara Center.

The Canadiens will try to spoil to the party on Thursday; they are 6-3 this season, while the Sabres are 3-6-1. Montreal is 4-5 on the totals; Buffalo is 7-3.



View Montreal vs Buffalo Odds and Stats.

Power Rankings:
The Sabres - Canadiens odds would favor the Canadiens if the lines were set according to our power ranks. Buffalo is rated No. 21 in the current Odds Shark poll, while Montreal is at No. 10.



How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up Buffalo's No. 8-ranked offense (3 goals per game) against a Canadiens defense that ranks No. 3 at 2.1 goals per game allowed. The Sabres Sportsbook has clicked at a 16.7% rate while the Canadiens have a 82.2% rate on the penalty kill.

Montreal lost its last outing, a 2-1 result against the Bruins on February 6. Bettors who backed the Bruins at +100 on the moneyline won on the day, and the total score (3) sent UNDER bettors to the payout window.

The Sabres were a 4-3 loser in their most recent outing on the road against the Senators. That made Sportsbooks of bettors who got Ottawa at -145 on the moneyline, while the total score (7) was good news for OVER bettors.


Montreal Canadiens Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 7-3
Before playing Toronto are 6-4
After playing Boston are 5-5
After a loss are 5-5

Buffalo Sabres Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 3-7
Before playing Colorado are 8-2
After playing Ottawa are 4-6
After a loss are 3-7

A few Canadiens at Sabres trends to consider:
Montreal is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Montreal's last 8 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Montreal's last 16 games when playing Buffalo
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Montreal's last 7 games when playing on the road against Buffalo
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Buffalo's last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Buffalo's last 6 games at home
Buffalo is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games when playing Montreal
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Buffalo's last 16 games when playing Montreal


Next up:
Montreal home to Toronto, Saturday, February 9
Buffalo at NY Islanders, Saturday, February 9