Venue: Bell Centre (Centre Bell), Montreal, Quebec
Puck drop: 6:30 p.m. ET
TV/Streaming: MSG-B (Sabres), TSN2 / RDS (Canadiens), ESPN+
This is an early Atlantic Division rivalry matchup and the first meeting of the 2026-27 season between the teams. Buffalo is coming off a 5-3 home win over Florida and opens a road trip, while Montreal is looking to build on recent results at home.
Injury Reports
Buffalo Sabres:
Rasmus Dahlin (D, upper body): Out for Tuesday (day-to-day; will not join the team for the start of the road trip after exiting the previous game).
Jason Zucker (LW, abdomen): IR (still a couple of weeks away).
Alex Lyon (G, upper body): IR.
Conor Timmins (D, lower body): IR (no firm timeline).
Topias Leinonen (G, lower body): IR-NR.
Jack Rathbone (D, undisclosed): IR-NR.
Other notes: Some depth players have rotated in/out; goaltending has involved Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Colten Ellis.
Montreal Canadiens:
Sam Montembeault (G, lower body): IR (out 10–14 days / into mid-to-late October).
Ivan Demidov (RW, lower body): IR (out 2–4 weeks).
Oliver Kapanen (C, lower body): IR / status TBD for Tuesday.
Florian Xhekaj (LW, undisclosed): Day-to-day.
Bryce Pickford (D, undisclosed) and Lucas Condotta: IR-NR considerations.
Kaiden Guhle has been working back into the lineup. Goaltending has featured Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler.
Current/Projected Rosters and Lineups
Buffalo Sabres:
Forwards: Tage Thompson, Zach Benson, Jack Quinn, Noah Östlund, Josh Doan, Peyton Krebs, Jiri Kulich, Ryan McLeod, Josh Norris, Konsta Helenius, Beck Malenstyn, others.
Defense: Owen Power, Mattias Samuelsson, Olen Zellweger, Zach Metsa, Louis Crevier (Dahlin out).
Goalies: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen or Colten Ellis (both have seen starts; projections vary).
Projected lines (recent games):
Krebs – Thompson – Doan
Benson – Östlund – Quinn
Kulich – Norris/McLeod – Helenius
Depth (Malenstyn, Carrick/Kozak, etc.).
Defense: Power–Samuelsson/Metsa, Zellweger–Crevier (adjustments without Dahlin).
Montreal Canadiens (key active players):
Forwards: Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovský, Chris Kreider, Alex Newhook, Josh Anderson, Phillip Danault, Zachary Bolduc, Alexandre Texier, Jake Evans, Kirby Dach, others.
Defense: Lane Hutson, Noah Dobson, Mike Matheson, Alexandre Carrier, Kaiden Guhle, Arber Xhekaj, Adam Engstrom.
Goalies: Jakub Dobes or Jacob Fowler (projected options with Montembeault out).
Projected lines (recent usage):
Caufield – Suzuki – Slafkovský
Kreider – Newhook – Anderson
Bolduc – Danault – Texier
Depth (Evans, Dach, Xhekaj status).
Defense: Hutson–Dobson, Matheson–Carrier, Guhle–Xhekaj/Engstrom.
Recent Team Forms
Sabres (3-3-0): Mixed start with a recent 5-3 win over Florida (Thompson and others contributing). Stronger possession metrics at times but inconsistent finishing and goaltending variance. Road record limited early.
Canadiens (2-2-1): Competitive early, including a recent shutout-style win. Suzuki has been productive; defensive structure under St. Louis is a focus, with young talent like Hutson and Slafkovský contributing. Home form provides some edge.
Series History
Long-standing Atlantic Division rivals with frequent, often physical and high-intensity matchups. Results in recent seasons have been competitive and split; both teams know each other well. This is the first 2026-27 meeting (they have another soon after).
Key Player vs. Player Matchups
Tage Thompson / Zach Benson / Jack Quinn vs. Canadiens defense (Hutson, Dobson, Matheson): Buffalo’s skill and size against Montreal’s mobile blue line.
Nick Suzuki / Cole Caufield / Juraj Slafkovský vs. Sabres pairs (Power, Samuelsson without Dahlin): Montreal’s top line testing Buffalo’s depleted defense.
Goaltending: Luukkonen/Ellis vs. Dobes/Fowler: Both sides have shared the net early with mixed results.
Secondary: Special teams (both mid-to-lower pack early) and bottom-six energy from players like Anderson, Malenstyn, and Danault’s checking line.
Betting Trends
Home ice and rivalry intensity favor Montreal slightly. Buffalo’s recent win and offensive pieces provide value on the road, but missing Dahlin is a notable hit. Totals can go either way given early-season variance.
The Sabres look to build momentum on the road in a classic rivalry setting, while the Canadiens aim to capitalize at the Bell Centre. Expect a competitive, physical Atlantic Division battle.
Game Odds
Buffalo Sabres 6.5
Montreal Canadiens – 157
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, October 12, 2026
