Buffalo Sabres vs Montreal Canadiens prediction, odds and best bet for Oct. 17, 2026
The Montreal Canadiens will beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 in our forecast for October 17, with Lane Hutson’s production against Buffalo and Rasmus Dahlin’s absence providing the strongest matchup reasons. Buffalo’s comeback ability and Montreal’s unsettled goaltending keep the edge slim. Neither the supplied puck-line prices nor the 6.5 total offers enough value for an actionable wager; the official recommendation is Pass.
Buffalo Sabres vs Montreal Canadiens prediction and best bet
Montreal is the pick in this 2026-27 NHL matchup, with low confidence. Hutson gives the Canadiens a productive contributor against this opponent, while Buffalo must play without Dahlin. Those factors favor Montreal narrowly, but the Sabres’ recent offensive contributions make a comfortable Canadiens win a tougher call.
The best bet is Pass. Picking Montreal to win does not mean backing its -1.5 puck line, and a seven-goal projection alone is not a strong enough argument for Over 6.5. Both markets carry meaningful uncertainty.
Odds, game time and how to watch
Date and venue: Saturday, October 17, 2026, at Bell Centre in Montreal. This is the teams’ second meeting of the week.
SportsJaw moneyline: Buffalo Sabres +125; Montreal Canadiens -141.
SportsJaw puck line: Buffalo Sabres +1.5 (-206); Montreal Canadiens -1.5 (+175). Total: Over 6.5 (-110) and Under 6.5 (-110).
Record: Buffalo enters 4-4. Montreal said its official lineup would follow Saturday’s morning skate; its starting goaltender remained unsettled between Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler.