Thursday’s NHL game between the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres is an important one in the Atlantic Division. The Canadiens enter this meeting looking to bounce back after an overtime loss, while the Sabres are riding a wave of momentum but having to play for the second night in a row. I’ve broken this game down from all angles, and you can find my Canadiens vs Sabres prediction right here before this game begins.
Our Canadiens vs Sabres Pick
| Pick: | |
| Confidence: | 3/5 |
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Montreal Canadiens vs Buffalo Sabres
- Date & Time: Thursday, January 15, 2026, 7:00 PM ET
- Venue: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
- Broadcast: ESPN+
Key Storylines
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The Sabres enter this contest in excellent form, winning 14 of their last 16 games. That includes a 5–2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in their last game, where Rasmus Dahlin scored twice on the power play and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 20 shots. Buffalo’s success has come with consistent scoring and strong puck movement. But they will need to overcome some rough schedule on a back-to-back here.
The Canadiens are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals, their second loss in three games. Montreal has shown the ability to put up goals, and they will try to take advantage of being the more rested team here.
Goaltending
The Canadiens are expected to start Jacob Fowler, who has been capable in recent outings with steady numbers. On the Sabres’ side, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been the primary netminder, but we could see him benched after playing last night for Buffalo. The Sabres’ goaltending situation could end up deciding this game.
Key skaters
For the Sabres, Rasmus Dahlin has been critical to their recent success, contributing multiple goals and facilitating play from the defenseman position. Tage Thompson continues to be a key offensive force, while Alex Tuch and Ryan McLeod offer scoring depth. Montreal’s attack is spearheaded by Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, both of whom provide the Habs with elite scoring and playmaking.
Betting Trends & H2H
- The Canadiens defeated the Sabres 4-2 in Montreal in their first meeting of the season.
- Montreal is 13-4-6 on the road going into Thursday night’s game.
- Buffalo is 15-6-2 on their home ice heading into this game.
- The Sabres are 22-22 on over/unders this season.
- The over is 28-19 in games involving the Canadiens this year.


