Venue & Event Details
Venue: Bell Centre, 1909 Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal, Montreal, QC H3B 5E8
Puckdrop: 7:30 PM ET
Broadcast: ESPN+, RDS, TSN2, MSG-B (Buffalo)
Radio: WGR 550 (BUF), TSN 690 (MTL)
Injury Report
Buffalo Sabres: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (G, lower body) – OUT since preseason. Alex Lyon continues as starter.
Montreal Canadiens: No major injuries reported, though goalie Samuel Montembeault has admitted to recent struggles in third periods.
Key Player Matchups
Josh Doan (BUF) vs. Cole Caufield (MTL): Doan has 2 goals and 3 assists in his last two games, sparking Buffalo’s power play. Caufield leads Montreal with 5 goals.
Rasmus Dahlin (BUF) vs. Nick Suzuki (MTL): Dahlin anchors Buffalo’s blue line and power play, while Suzuki has 8 points (1G, 7A) to pace Montreal’s offense.
Alex Lyon (BUF) vs. Samuel Montembeault (MTL): Lyon has a .929 SV% and a shutout in his last start. Montembeault sits at .857 SV% and has struggled late in games.
Team Recent Form
Buffalo Sabres:
Started 0-3, outscored 10-2.
Have since won two straight: 8-4 vs. Ottawa and 3-0 vs. Florida.
Power play surged to 27.8% (6th in NHL) after going 0-for-11 in first three games.
Montreal Canadiens:
Won four straight before a 4-3 loss to NY Rangers on Saturday.
Offense ranks 4th in NHL with 21 goals scored.
Defense has allowed 18 goals in 6 games (12th most).
Series History
Last season: Montreal dominated, going 3-0-1 vs. Buffalo.
All-time: Canadiens hold a strong edge at the Bell Centre.
Betting Trends:
Buffalo has hit the Over in 2 straight games.
Montreal is 2-1 at home this season.
Sabres are 0-1 on the road.
Key Storylines
Buffalo’s Revival: After a dreadful start, the Sabres’ power play and Alex Lyon’s goaltending have turned momentum.
Montreal’s Bounce-Back: The Canadiens’ offense is among the league’s best, but defensive lapses remain a concern.
Goaltending Duel: Lyon’s hot streak vs. Montembeault’s inconsistency could swing the outcome.
Game Odds
Buffalo Sabres 6.5
Montreal Canadiens – 155
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Sunday, October 19, 2025
