Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres 10/23/23 – As the crisp fall air signals the beginning of another thrilling NHL season, hockey enthusiasts prepare for matchups that redefine rivalries. Enter Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres; two teams with rich histories, gritty rosters, and something to prove. Their historic W-L-OTL record stands at an encouraging 2-1-1; Sabres’ are 2-3-0 with each looking to rebound after previous losses. Their meeting on October 23, 2023 promises to be an intense game filled with talent, strategy, and passion; picking an NHL winning pick may prove challenging but one thing’s certain: this matchup promises an exhilarating showdown!
Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres
Date & Time: Monday, October 23, 2023 at 7:00 PM ET
Location: KeyBank Center
TV: NHL
Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres 10/23/23 Betting Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Puckline | Total |
| Canadiens | +147 | +1.5 (-150) | 6.5 over -118 |
| Sabres | -165 | -1.5 (+130) | 6.5 under +102 |
Montreal Canadiens Analysis
Offensively, the Montreal Canadiens have shown great promise early in the season. Cole Caufield stands out as an inspiring figure on offense with three goals and an 18.8% shooting percentage that have provided Montreal with much-needed energy on offense. Sean Monahan has also contributed with 22.2% shooting efficiency and two goals of his own; yet while these two have been impressive their overall team performance on the road is alarming with only seven victories out of eight victories at KeyBank Center last season (1-6-1-SU record). If they hope to beat Buffalo at KeyBank Center against Sabres 1-7 overall record must improve drastically for success at beating Sabres at KeyBank Center!
Jake Allen remains key for Montreal on defense. Though his save percentage of 0.907 is admirable, Montreal must improve upon their recent defensive lapses against Eastern Conference teams – particularly Buffalo. Montreal will rely heavily on Allen to defend against Buffalo’s multi-pronged attack and ensure they do not continue their poor record against Atlantic Division opponents.
Buffalo Sabres Analysis
Buffalo Sabres have proven themselves an offensive powerhouse on the road this season. Rasmus Dahlin has excelled with his playmaking, recording five assists. Dylan Cozens and Casey Mittelstadt each scored three goals with five assists from this balanced attack that offers Montreal Canadiens defense an unpredictability that may take advantage of Montreal Canadiens defensive vulnerabilities on their journeys.
Buffalo’s defensive strategy centers on goaltender Devon Levi. While his save percentage of 0.892 over four games shows areas for improvement, Buffalo is clearly consolidating their defense at KeyBank Center as evidenced by their 5-2 home record SU. Buffalo’s defense will be essential against Montreal’s offense led by players like Caufield and Monahan; as they tend to engage in high-scoring games that could make or break their season if their opponent remains disciplined with regard to defensive discipline.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres Against the Spread
Montreal has shown an affinity for high-scoring affairs with their last eight games resulting in six of them having totals going OVER. Furthermore, Montreal have found it difficult to secure wins recently while away from home, particularly against Eastern Conference and Atlantic Division opponents whose performance have been less-than-stellar.
Buffalo, on the other hand, has displayed an affinity for low-scoring games recently with four out of their last five totaling UNDER. Home record offers some relief to Sabres fans; and as favorites they have managed to pull off four wins out of their five.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres Free Pick
Based on odds, trends, team stats, and key players, here are the picks:
Moneyline: Buffalo Sabres -165. Given their home record and Montreal’s recent road struggles, Buffalo seems to be the safer bet.
Spread: Montreal Canadiens +1.5. While Buffalo might win, Montreal’s recent high-scoring games suggest they can keep it close.
Total: 6.5 over -118. Considering Montreal’s OVER trend and the potential for both teams to score, this seems a plausible choice.
Predicted Score: Buffalo Sabres 4, Montreal Canadiens 3.
Today’s game promises fireworks, with both teams possessing distinct strengths. Montreal boasts sharpshooter like Caufield while Buffalo can create havoc through their aggressive offense strategy. Punters should carefully examine odds and trends; Montreal may hold an advantage if they’ve solved their road game issues; for those eager to bet there are numerous online sportsbooks in Canada offering competitive odds for this electrifying matchup.
