The Buffalo Sabres have won two straight against tougher opponents. Can they keep their success rolling tonight against Montreal?
The Buffalo Sabres pulled off a stunner on Friday night against the New Jersey Devils, before shutting out the New York Islanders on Saturday. Logistically, playing a team like the Montreal Canadiens should equate to a similar result, right?
With these Sabres, you just never know. Sometimes, they go out and pull off a pair of upsets, but other times, they look like a team that forgot how to play defense.
So while the Canadiens are a weaker opponent on paper, it’s premature to predict an easy Sabres win here. In fact, it’s also the time of year when division rivals relish in the opportunity to play spoiler if they’re hanging out in the division’s basement.
Can the Sabres avoid the upset and make it three in a row? Here are the odds and a prediction.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Canadiens Odds – Game 72
Per Fan Duel, the Buffalo Sabres are -1.5 favorites at home against the Canadiens. The Over/Under is 6.5, and the Sabres moneyline is -200. The Canadiens moneyline is +164.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Canadiens Prediction – Game 72
The Sabres may be coming off of a shutout performance over the Isles, but the Canadiens embarrassed the Columbus Blue Jackets 8-2 in their previous contest. Further, the Sabres are only two games removed from their string of awful defensive performances, so this is by no means going to be an easy game, as momentum is in both teams’ corner.
If the Sabres come out and play defense the same way they did against New York, they will win. But if their defensive play reverts to what we’d seen over the first three and a half weeks in March, then good luck trying to win this one, because it isn’t happening.
With sound defense, Buffalo wins this one 4-3. But if their defense doesn’t show, expect a 5-4 loss. So which Sabres team will show up tonight? We will find out.
(Game odds update regularly and are subject to change)