Buffalo Sabres vs Montréal Canadiens Picks and Predictions March 1st 2025

Buffalo Sabres vs Montréal Canadiens March 1st 2025

Making on a bet on this NHL game featuring the Canadiens versus the Sabres? The puck drops at 7:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on ESPN+. The game will be played at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY. The over/under for this matchup is currently set at 6.5 goals and the Sabres are the -1.5 favorite to win at home vs. the Canadiens.

Montreal vs. Buffalo Key Information

• Teams: Canadiens at Sabres
• Where: KeyBank Center Buffalo
• Date: Saturday, March 1st
• Betting Odds BUF -150 | MON +126 O/U 6.5

The Canadiens Can Win If…

After a 3-1 loss to the Penguins, the Canadiens’ record dropped to 28-26-5. Montreal, the underdog on the puck line, failed to cover. The total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score reached only 4.

Montreal didn’t score until the 3rd period, when Christian Dvorak found the net at 14:28. The Penguins sealed the game with an empty-net goal at 19:15.

Montreal’s offense struggled in their 3-1 loss to Pittsburgh, managing only one goal. Christian Dvorak found the net for the first time this season, scoring at 14:28 in the third period. The Canadiens took 26 shots on goal but were unable to convert on any of their 20 offensive giveaways.

Emil Heineman picked up his first assist of the season on Dvorak’s goal, while Juraj Slafkovsky added his seventh assist. Montreal was held scoreless through the first two periods before finally breaking through in the third.

Montreal’s defense gave up the first two goals in their previous game, both coming from Sidney Crosby. The first was at 15:57 in the first period, and the second was a power-play goal at 18:40 in the second. After the Canadiens made it 2-1 in the third, they allowed an empty-netter with 45 seconds left, leading to a 3-1 loss. Goalie Sam Montembeault finished with 21 saves and a 91.3% save percentage.

• The Canadiens have posted a 3-0 record in their previous three games. The team has also been excellent vs the spread, going 2-1. Their over-under record in these games was 2-1.
• Across Montreal’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 4-6. Against the spread, Montreal went 2-8 in these games and finished with an over-under mark of 5-5.

The Sabres Can Win If…

Buffalo dropped to 24-28-5 with a 2-1 loss to the Red Wings. The Sabres took an early lead with a short-handed goal from Alex Tuch, but the Red Wings responded with two power-play goals in the second period.

As underdogs on the puck line, the Sabres failed to cover. The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, but the teams combined for just 3.

Buffalo’s offense struggled in their 2-1 loss to Detroit, with Alex Tuch netting the Sabres’ only goal, his fifth of the season, on a shorthanded play. The Sabres fired 32 shots on goal but were unable to find the net again, resulting in 13 giveaways.

Tuch’s goal came 8:21 into the first period, and the Sabres were held scoreless in the second and third. Buffalo failed to convert on any power play opportunities.

Buffalo’s defense gave up two goals to Detroit, both on the power play in the 2nd period. Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 21 saves with a 91.3% save percentage. The Sabres’ defense also recorded 5 takeaways and 17 hits.

• Buffalo has put together a record of 2-1 over their past three games. This includes going 1-2 vs. the puck line and posting an over-under mark of 2-1.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Sabres have gone 6-4 straight up. This includes going 5-5 vs. the puck line along with an over-under mark of 7-3.

The Lean

For a moneyline bet, I’m backing the Canadiens to secure a victory over the Sabres on the road. With the moneyline currently set at +126, I’m locking in my bet on the Canadiens straight-up.

If you’re looking to get a bet down on this matchup, we foresee the Canadiens winning the underdog. However, if you’re not as confident in the Canadiens straight-up, we’d still recommend placing a bet on them to cover the puck line.

When considering the over/under line, which is currently at 6.5 goals, we believe that this game will go over that threshold, and we recommend wagering on the over.

Canadiens Visit Sabres Searching for First Four-Game Win Streak in Three Years

The Montreal Canadiens are on the verge of achieving something they haven’t done in three years—winning four consecutive games. Their opportunity comes on Saturday night as they face the Buffalo Sabres in the first game of a home-and-home series.

Montreal hasn’t strung together a four-game win streak since February 2022, when they won five straight. They enter Saturday’s game with momentum after securing a 4-3 overtime victory over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Sabres are looking to bounce back from a 5-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in their last outing.

Cole Caufield played hero for the Canadiens, scoring the game-winner in overtime, bringing Montreal within five points of Detroit and Columbus for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spots. With just over 20 games left in the regular season, every point is crucial for their fading playoff hopes.

“It’s kind of just do-or-die, that’s kind of what it is right now,” Caufield said. “I think guys got some rest, some bodies were back, and we play a good team game. And when we do that, we’re pretty dominant. I think we’ve just got to keep that going, stay simple and just stay in the moment.”

Montreal Building Momentum at the Right Time

The Canadiens have been in solid form since returning from the 4 Nations Face-Off break, winning three straight games. Their latest victory over San Jose showcased their resilience, as they erased deficits of 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2 before eventually sealing the win in overtime.

Nick Suzuki led the charge with two goals and an assist, continuing his strong season. The Canadiens’ captain reached 60 points (18 goals, 42 assists) for the fourth consecutive season, cementing his status as a reliable offensive force.

Lane Hutson, meanwhile, recorded an assist on Suzuki’s second goal, becoming the sixth-fastest rookie defenseman in NHL history to reach 40 assists in a season (59 games).

“I think we’re right there,” Suzuki said. “We have our moments where we show we can be a really top team in the league and moments where we kind of show our immaturity a little bit too much. We’re trying to find that balance.”

Following their two-game set with Buffalo, the Canadiens face a difficult road trip with games in Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, and Seattle. That makes these upcoming matchups with the Sabres even more critical in their playoff chase.

Buffalo Looks to Bounce Back After Carolina Setback

The Sabres had been building momentum with six wins in seven games coming out of the break, but their 5-2 loss to the Hurricanes on Thursday served as a setback.

Alex Tuch and JJ Peterka scored for Buffalo, but the game was all but decided early, as Carolina jumped out to a 3-0 lead within the first 10 minutes.

Starting goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was pulled just 7:57 into the game after allowing two goals on seven shots. James Reimer came in relief, making 27 saves, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome.

Head coach Lindy Ruff was critical of his team’s compete level, citing a lack of execution and effort.

“We got outcompeted,” Ruff said. “They beat us to pucks. (When) we got to pucks, we didn’t execute. A lot of pucks went off our sticks and right to them. They were a lot stronger on the puck than we were.”

Tuch has been one of Buffalo’s most consistent performers, tallying 10 points (five goals, five assists) in his last eight games. However, the Sabres’ power play remains a major issue, ranking 27th in the NHL at just 17 percent. They went 1-for-3 against Carolina and 3-for-16 in February, struggling to generate high-quality chances.

“I thought we actually started really simple,” Tuch said. “We were rimming the puck in and trying to get it in on some of the power plays. Our entries just weren’t good enough, and we didn’t get enough opportunities. I think we missed some open shots as well.”

Buffalo also played without forward Jason Zucker, who has been dealing with a foot injury. Zucker was in the lineup on Tuesday, skating just 12:57, but struggled with his mobility. His availability for Saturday remains uncertain.

Head-to-Head: Canadiens Have Dominated This Season

Montreal has already won both meetings against Buffalo this season in convincing fashion.

• November 11 in Buffalo: Cole Caufield scored twice to lead the Canadiens to a 7-5 victory.
• December 17 in Montreal: Patrik Laine recorded a hat trick, powering Montreal to a 6-1 win.

The Canadiens have outscored the Sabres 13-6 in their two meetings and will look to continue that dominance as they aim for their first four-game win streak in three years.

Explore Underdogs and Powerhouses Battling for Hockey’s Ultimate Prize Through Detailed Odds Analysis

What’s at Stake?

For Montreal, this game represents another opportunity to gain ground in the playoff race. With momentum on their side, the Canadiens must take advantage of a Buffalo team that showed defensive vulnerabilities against Carolina.

For Buffalo, this is a chance to recover from a frustrating loss and solidify their own standing in the playoff picture. A strong performance against Montreal could put them back on track as they push toward the final wild-card spot.

Expect an intense battle as both teams fight for valuable points, with the Canadiens looking to make history with their longest winning streak in three years.