The Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens will face off in Canada on Monday night. Montreal will play in the fourth game of its current homestand and will try to get back into the win column after a loss in their last outing. Here, I break this game down from all angles and make my Sabres vs Canadiens prediction for this Monday night matchup on the ice.
Our Sabres vs Canadiens Pick
- Pick: Montreal Canadiens Moneyline
- Confidence: 3/5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Buffalo Sabres vs Montreal Canadiens
- Date & Time: Monday, October 20, 2025, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Venue: Bell Centre, Montréal, Quebec
- Broadcast: ESPN+
Sabres vs Canadiens Odds
| Moneyline | Puckline | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Sabres +125 / Canadiens –145 | Canadiens –1.5 (+165) / Sabres +1.5 (–200) | 6.5 Goals |
Key Storylines
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The Canadiens enter at 4-2 after a solid start to the season. They dropped their last game to the New York Rangers but they are 2-1 at home and will try to build on that here. The Sabres are 2-3 overall and have won their last two games. Their most recent win came at home against the two-time defending champion Florida Panthers. But the Sabres have lost their only road game of the season and will try to get their first road win tonight.
Goaltending
Buffalo’s starter Alex Lyon has posted a .929 save percentage with 12 goals allowed through his five starts so far. That’s a strong number for the Sabres and he will try to prove himself on the road after a 3-1 loss to the Bruins in Buffalo’s only road game. Montreal’s Sam Montembeault is 2-2 to start the season in net. His 3.26 GAA leaves room for improvement, even with the Habs off to a good start overall.
Key skaters
Young forward Josh Doan has logged two goals and three assists in the opening five games for Buffalo. Cole Caufield has been the focal point of the Montreal attack with five goals and three assists early on. Nick Suzuki is the Habs’ assists leader with seven in six games.
Best Player Props
| Player | Stat Line |
|---|---|
| Josh Doan (Sabres) | Over 0.5 assists |
| Cole Caufield (Canadiens) | Over 0.5 goals |
| Nick Suzuki (Canadiens) | Over 0.5 assists |
Betting Trends & H2H
- This is the first of four regular-season meetings scheduled between these teams.
- Buffalo is 2-3 on the puckline to start the season.
- Montreal is 1-5 on the puckline this year.
- The Sabres have gone under the total in four of their five games.
- Montreal is 3-2-1 on their over/unders this season.
Sabres vs Canadiens Model Projection
Score Projection: Montréal Canadiens 4 – Buffalo Sabres 2
Win Probability: Canadiens 58% | Sabres 42%
Final Thoughts
The Sabres are playing well over the last two games. But they have yet to deliver a performance like that on the road this season. I think we will see Buffalo struggle on the road again here. Look for the duo of Caulfield and Suzuki to lead the Habs to a win on home ice in what should be an entertaining matchup in the Atlantic Division.
