Montreal Canadiens vs Buffalo Sabres Pick & Prediction - 1/15/2026
Updated July 9, 2026
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.
Pick: | Canadiens ML ATS PRO |
Confidence: | 3/5 |
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.
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.
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.
Score Projection: Canadiens 4 – Sabres 3 ATS PRO
Win Probability: Canadiens 52%, Sabres 48% ATS PRO
This should be a tight game between two teams with legitimate playoff aspirations in the Eastern Conference this year. Under equal rest circumstances, I think that the Sabres would have the upper hand on their home rink. But with the Sabres playing for the second night in a row here, I think that the Habs have the slight advantage. I'll take Montreal to win this contest on the road on Thursday.
Jay Sanin is the GM and Head of Sports at ATS.io. He has been writing about sports gambling since 2013, handicapping tens of thousands of sporting events. He plays sides and totals aggressively across most sports and is more selective in player prop markets. He does his own modeling across most sports, and his family is jealous of how much time he spends on his precious spreadsheets.
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