Two teams currently on losing skids, the Montreal Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres take the ice at the KeyBank Center in an Atlantic Division matchup. The puck drops at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, March 23, and you can see the game live on Reseau Des Sports.
Montreal Canadiens at Buffalo Sabres Odds
Montreal (-115) is currently favored over Buffalo (-105) and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).
Montreal is 26-48 straight up (SU) and has lost 24.9 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 74 regular season matches, 40 of its games have gone under the total, while 32 have gone over and just two have pushed. This 2017-18 Canadiens team is 9-28 SU on the road.
Montreal has converted on 20.4 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked 32nd overall, and it has successfully killed off only 74.7 percent of its penalties.
The Habs, as a collective unit, have been penalized 3.8 times per game overall this season, and 4.5 per game over its last ten games. The team has been forced to kill penalties a whopping 13.8 minutes per game over their last five outings.
With a .903 save percentage and 27.4 saves per game, Carey Price (15-29-6) has been the best option in goal for Montreal this year. If head coach Claude Julien decides to rest him, however, Montreal could turn to Antti Niemi (5-16-4 record, .911 save percentage, 3.19 goals against average).
The visiting Canadiens have relied on Brendan Gallagher and Alex Galchenyuk heavily this year. Gallagher has 45 points on 26 goals and 19 assists, and has recorded two or more points in seven different games. Galchenyuk has 16 goals and 28 assists to his credit, and has notched at least one point in 32 games.
Buffalo is 23-50 straight up (SU) and has lost 17.3 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 73 regular season contests, 36 of its games have gone under the total, while 33 have gone over and just four have pushed. This season, the team is 11-27 SU at home.
The Sabres have converted on just 17.0 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that places them in the bottom 10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 22nd overall, and it’s successfully killed off 78.6 percent of all penalties.
Buffalo players have been penalized 3.5 times per game in total this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five at home. The team’s had to kill penalties just 8.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Robin Lehner has denied 27.3 shots per game as the top choice in goal for the Sabres. Lehner has 14 wins, 37 losses, and nine OT losses to his name and has registered a .911 save percentage and 2.93 goals against average this year.
Jack Eichel (22 goals, 32 assists) will lead the offensive counter for the home team.
Montreal Canadiens at Buffalo Sabres Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner – Sabres, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Buffalo is 1-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Montreal is 2-6 in shootouts.
The under has hit in three of Buffalo’s last five games.
Eight of Montreal’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 1-7 in those games.
Montreal skaters have dished out the second-most hits in the league (26.2 per game).
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