Montreal Canadiens (2-1-1) vs. Buffalo Sabres (2-3-0)
Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres 10/23/23 – The National Hockey League season has kicked off, and Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres will square off at KeyBank Center. Both teams currently stand at 2-1-1 while Buffalo sits at 2-3-0; fans should expect an exciting matchup between two teams with different strengths and strategies colliding – an opportunity not to be missed! In keeping an eye out for NHL top predictions this matchup offers intriguing possibilities.
Cole Caufield has been an exciting piece of the Montreal Canadiens offense, scoring 3 goals and 2 assists in 4 games to show his incredible talent to the NHL world. Sean Monahan also shines, notching two goals and two assists in 4 games as well. However, their road record against Atlantic Division teams and struggles against them raise concerns; thus providing Buffalo Sabres, with their formidable defensive home record an advantage.
Buffalo features Rasmus Dahlin as their defensive maestro; although he has yet to score any goals himself, he has provided five assists and scored two power play goals himself. Dylan Cozens and Casey Mittelstadt lead an effective offense, but more will need to be done if they hope to penetrate Montreal’s defense successfully.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres 10/23/23 Game Info
| When: | Monday, October 23, 2023 at 7:00 PM ET |
| Where: | KeyBank Center |
| TV: | NHL |
| Stream: | NHL.TV |
Goaltender Jake Allen vs. Goaltender Devon Levi
Jake Allen of the Montreal Canadiens has become adept at handling high-pressure situations over his years as one of the league’s more reliable goaltenders. So far this season he’s posted an admirable save percentage of 0.907 while also showing an admirable goals against average of 3.34, signaling potential vulnerabilities. In combination with their recent struggles on the road and facing Buffalo’s attackers at KeyBank Center this game, all this puts Allen through its paces as his reflexes and decision making may be tested throughout.
On the Buffalo Sabres side of the rink is Devon Levi. While less experienced than his counterpart, Levi has shown flashes of brilliance during four appearances this season. His agility and raw talent stand out, while a save percentage of 0.892 exposes moments of inconsistency. This matchup represents more than just another game for Levi; it represents an opportunity. Facing an intimidating Montreal offense led by Caufield and Monahan will test his mettle; whether Buffalo capitalizes on their home advantage and recent form will ultimately depend on Levi and his ability to thwart Montreal’s assault on him and prevent its attacks successfully.
NHL Odds/Point Spread: Buffalo Sabres -165, Total Odds: 6.5
The NHL odds for this matchup favor Buffalo Sabres with a Moneyline of -165, signaling bookmakers’ belief they are clear favorites in this contest. That means any bet placed on them to win outright would yield returns less than their stake amount; further emphasizing their perceived advantage. With total odds set at 6.5 suggesting an anticipated high scoring affair; which fits well with Montreal’s recent trend of games where total scores often go over, as well as Buffalo’s defensive statistics; bettors interested in betting the over/under should take into consideration recent performances as well as potential future explosive moments when betting them over/under.
Montreal Canadiens Betting Trends
Montreal has experienced high-scoring affairs recently, with six of their last eight games having an OVER total. Unfortunately, their struggles can be seen from their 3-9 straight-up record in their last 12 games; and particularly vulnerable on the road where they went 1-7 straight-up. Furthermore, Montreal may face issues when competing against Atlantic Division rivals as they have dropped five straight matchups this season.
Buffalo Sabres Betting Trends
Buffalo has taken an opposite approach, focusing on defensive tactics in recent games with four out of five totals going UNDER in each. Their home form has also been impressive with five wins out of seven victories recorded over this span. Furthermore, October was especially fruitful for them with seven of ten games going UNDER while their record as favorites stands at four to one!
Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres 10/23/23 Betting Picks
Given recent trends and performances, this game should be tightly contested. While the Canadiens boast power in Caufield and Monahan, their home advantage and strong defensive record might give the Sabres an edge.
For those in search of daily sports premium picks, the Canadiens’ recent high-scoring games and total of 6.5 seem like ideal candidates to pick over. However, given the Sabres’ UNDER trend it could prove a more difficult call than expected.
Free Pick and Prediction: Buffalo Sabres 4, Montreal Canadiens 3.