Montréal Canadiens vs Buffalo Sabres Picks and Predictions December 17th 2024

Montréal Canadiens vs Buffalo Sabres December 17th 2024

The Sabres and Canadiens are set to face off at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The Canadiens will host the game at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC. The Sabres come into this Atlantic division matchup as the -1.5 goal favorite to pick up the win. Currently, the over/under for the game is at 6 goals.

Buffalo vs. Montreal Key Information

Buffalo dropped to 11-16-4 after a 2-1 road loss to the Red Wings. The Sabres held a 1-0 lead after the first period, but Detroit responded with two goals in the second. Buffalo entered the game as underdogs on the puck line, and the total of 3 goals fell short of the 6.5 line.

Alex Tuch scored the Sabres’ only goal, a short-handed effort at 11:39 in the first period. Buffalo’s defense couldn’t hold, allowing two power-play goals in the second period.

In their latest game, the Sabres fired 32 shots on goal but only found the net once. Alex Tuch scored his 5th goal of the season, an unassisted, shorthanded effort at 8:21 in the first period.

Buffalo had 13 giveaways and didn’t register any assists. Tuch took 5 shots on goal, while the team was held scoreless in the second and third periods.

Buffalo’s defense gave up two goals, both in the second period, after the Sabres took a 1-0 lead. Both goals came on the power play, with the first at 12:11 in the second and the second at 5:22. Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 21 saves with a 91.3% save percentage. The Sabres’ defense also recorded 5 takeaways and 17 hits.

Montreal fell to 11-16-3 after a 3-1 road loss to the Penguins. The Canadiens entered the game as underdogs on the puck line, with the total set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score of 4 fell short of the over.

The Canadiens didn’t score until the third period, narrowing the deficit to 2-1 before the Penguins added an empty-net goal. Christian Dvorak netted Montreal’s only goal at 5:32 in the third period.

Montreal managed 26 shots on goal but found the net only once in their 3-1 loss to Pittsburgh. Christian Dvorak scored his first goal of the season, which came 5:32 into the third period. Emil Heineman picked up his first assist, while Juraj Slafkovsky added his seventh assist of the season.

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The Canadiens were held scoreless through the first two periods and recorded 20 offensive giveaways. They didn’t capitalize on any power play opportunities and didn’t score any shorthanded or empty net goals.

Montreal’s defense gave up the first two goals of the game, one at 15:57 in the first period and another at 18:40 in the second. They also allowed an empty-netter with 45 seconds left in the third. Sam Montembeault made 21 saves with a 91.3% save percentage. The Canadiens’ defense also recorded 4 takeaways and 28 hits.

When it comes to a moneyline wager, I’m going with the Canadiens to defeat the Sabres while playing at home. Given the current moneyline odds at +107, I’m placing a wager on the Canadiens to win outright.

Our projections have the Canadiens pulling out a win as the underdog. But if you’re not as bullish as we are on the Canadiens, we’d recommend at least getting a bet down on them to cover the puck line.

When considering the over/under line, which is currently at 6 goals, we believe that this game will go over that threshold, and we recommend wagering on the over.

Sabres Seek to End Skid in Road Clash with Canadiens

The Buffalo Sabres aim to snap their 10-game winless streak when they visit the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night. For both teams, struggling near the bottom of the Atlantic Division, this matchup represents an opportunity to reset and turn things around.

Buffalo’s Frustration Mounting

The Sabres (10-18-4) have not won a game since Nov. 23, going 0-7-3 during an increasingly frustrating stretch. Their latest setback came on Sunday, a 5-3 loss to Toronto, in which Buffalo squandered an early two-goal lead.

Head coach Lindy Ruff, a veteran of over 1,800 NHL games, took ownership of the team’s struggles:

“It’s on me to solve this. This is the toughest solve I’ve been around, but it’s on me to get these guys in the right place to win a hockey game. And nobody else, just me.”

There were some bright spots against Toronto, however. Jack Quinn responded to being a healthy scratch for five straight games with two goals in his return to the lineup. Quinn acknowledged the frustration of sitting out but saw it as a chance to refocus:

“It (stinks) not playing, but I used it as a chance to find my legs and get a little pop coming back.”

Alex Tuch added a goal, and JJ Peterka contributed two assists, but the Sabres once again fell short when it mattered most.

“Losing 10 in a row, there’s no good feelings,” said Tuch. “You’ve just got to work.”

Sabres Leaders Hoping to Spark a Turnaround

Despite the team’s struggles, Buffalo’s top contributors have shown flashes of brilliance:

• Tage Thompson leads the team with 16 goals, including five this month, and scored against Montreal earlier this season.
• Alex Tuch has been the team’s top playmaker with 16 assists and remains tied with Thompson for the team lead in points (25).

Buffalo will need those players to step up again as they aim to find answers against a Canadiens team that beat them 7-5 in their previous meeting on Nov. 11.

Montreal Looks to Regain Momentum

The Canadiens (11-17-3) enter Tuesday one point behind Buffalo and are also searching for consistency. Their 4-2 loss to Winnipeg on Saturday ended Nick Suzuki’s eight-game point streak, but Montreal has shown some positive signs, particularly from its young core.

Suzuki continues to lead the team with 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) and has formed a dynamic scoring partnership with Cole Caufield. Caufield, who paces the team with 17 goals, has been particularly effective over the last month, registering 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in his last 15 games.

Montreal rookie defenseman Lane Hutson has been a revelation. His first-period goal against Winnipeg marked his 20th point in 30 games, joining teammate Brendan Gallagher as the only Canadiens rookies in the last 30 years to achieve that milestone so quickly.

“It’s pretty special,” Hutson said. “You never know when it’s going to be your last goal or your first goal. I would have loved to have scored and won the game. Hopefully, we can do that soon.”

Key Matchup: Buffalo’s Defense vs. Montreal’s Scoring Duo

The Sabres struggled defensively in their last meeting with Montreal, allowing seven goals, including two each from Suzuki and Caufield. Buffalo will need to focus on containing Montreal’s top line and limiting their high-danger scoring opportunities.

At the other end, Buffalo’s offense, led by Thompson and Tuch, must take advantage of Montreal’s inconsistent defense, which has allowed an average of 3.4 goals per game this season.

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Goaltending Decisions

Both teams have had their issues in net:

• Buffalo’s defense has frequently left its goalies vulnerable, contributing to their slide. Whether Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen or Devon Levi gets the start, the Sabres will need a solid performance between the pipes.
• Montreal will likely turn to Jake Allen or Samuel Montembeault, both of whom have shown flashes of brilliance but struggled for consistency.

What’s at Stake

For Buffalo, this game is about pride and breaking out of an 0-10 skid that has sapped confidence. Ruff’s squad needs to find its identity and prove they can hold onto leads.

For Montreal, a win would not only pull them ahead of Buffalo in the standings but also give their young stars like Suzuki, Caufield, and Hutson another confidence boost.

The Bottom Line

Both teams enter desperate for a victory. The Sabres hope players like Jack Quinn and Tage Thompson can provide the spark they’ve been missing, while Montreal will rely on Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield to expose Buffalo’s defensive struggles.

Can the Sabres “solve” their woes and finally end their losing streak, or will the Canadiens take advantage of Buffalo’s vulnerabilities and send them packing with another loss? The battle at the bottom of the Atlantic Division should deliver plenty of intensity as both teams fight to right the ship.