Odds courtesy of TonyBet.
Canadiens vs Sabres Game 6 Odds
The Canadiens head into Game 6 as a heavy -164 home favorite at NHL betting sites. The Sabres come back as a +127 underdog on the moneyline. The O/U is set at 6.5 goals, with two of the last three contests cashing the Over.
Canadiens vs Sabres Game 6 Analysis
Everyone expected the Canadiens’ talented core to make the playoffs this season, but I don’t think anyone could’ve predicted they’d be on the verge of making the Eastern Conference Finals. After a 3-2 loss in Game 4, which saw Buffalo tie the series up at two, Montreal made a statement in Game 5 on Thursday. Following a hectic first period that ended 3-2 in favor of the Sabres, the Canadiens came out with serious fire in the second, and they never looked back.
Josh Anderson, Jake Evans, and Nick Suzuki all scored in the second frame before Ivan Demidov added another in the third on the power play. Demidov finished the game with a goal and a helper, while Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky led the way with three points apiece. Four different players had multi-point nights for Montreal, who put their impressive depth on full display. Now, they have a chance to close this series out in front of their passionate fanbase.
The Sabres are staring down elimination as the top seed in the Atlantic Division, but that certainly won’t faze a team with such grit. Buffalo has been a tough, resilient group all season long, going from a bottom-feeder in the Atlantic to a serious contender. Their rise has been inspiring, but this squad is hungry for a deep run – not a second-round exit.
They definitely looked to be in control in Game 5 after a strong first period, but they let Montreal back in, and the Sabres couldn’t bury their chances as Jakub Dobes was a wall in net. Buffalo outshot the Habs 20-7 in the third period alone, but they couldn’t score again after the opening 20, despite even pulling their goalie with six minutes left in the contest. On a more positive note, the Sabres did beat the Canadiens at the Bell Centre in Game 4, securing a 3-2 victory.
Canadiens vs Sabres Game 6 Picks
The Habs really dominated in the final 40 minutes in Game 5, and the home ice advantage in the hostile Montreal atmosphere always plays in their favor. With Buffalo’s goaltending looking poor and the Canadiens’ top guys all producing, I’m eyeing a close-out win for the hosts.
Pick: Canadiens -164 /TonyBet
