NHL Prop Bets: Buffalo Sabres vs Montreal Canadiens (May 18, 2026)
The Montreal Canadiens face the Buffalo Sabres in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Second Round at KeyBank Center. Let's take a look at the NHL Prop Bets for Monday's matchup. The Sabres are favored to win at -112. They're currently +220 to cover the -1.5 puck line while the Canadiens are -270 to cover the +1.5 puck line.
- The Canadiens have a 55-40 Puck Line record this season (including playoffs), while the Sabres hold a record of 53-41.
The total goals line is set at 5.5, with OVER at +110 and UNDER at -130.
- The Canadiens have a 48-41-6 O/U record this season, including playoffs (meaning 48 games have gone over the total points line, 41 have gone under and six have resulted in a push). The Sabres have a 43-45-6 O/U record.
Goals For Insights
- The Canadiens averaged 3.40 goals per game during the regular season (7th in the NHL), while the Sabres averaged 3.45 (5th). More recently, the Canadiens are averaging 3.08 goals in these playoffs and the Sabres have managed 3.42.
- Defensively, the Canadiens allowed 3.06 goals per game during the regular season (T16th in the NHL). Meanwhile, the Sabres gave up 2.93 (T10th). During the playoffs, the Canadiens have given up 2.77 per contest, while the Sabres are allowing 3.00.
Shots
- Looking at creating chances to score, the Canadiens are averaging 25.2 shots per game during the postseason, down 1.1 from their regular season number of 26.3. Alternatively, the Sabres are allowing 26.9 shots per game throughout these playoffs, an increase of 2.1 from their regular season average of 29.1.
- Flipping that script, the Canadiens are allowing 27.9 shots per game in the playoffs, up 27.8 from their regular season average. Meanwhile, the Sabres are recording 29.8 shots per contest during the postseason, which is an increase of 1.6 from their regular season number of 28.1.
Power Play
- The Canadiens held a power play percentage of 23.1% during the regular season, ranking 10th in the NHL. During the postseason, they hold a percentage of 23.5%. Comparatively, the Sabres ranked 20th with 19.5% of their power play opportunities converted into goals in the regular season. In these playoffs they hold a percentage of 20.8%.
Penalty Kill %
- On the opposite end, the Canadiens had a penalty kill rate of 78.2% during the regular season (18th) and have a kill rate of 73.6% in the postseason. Alternatively, the Sabres had a penalty kill rate of 81.9% in the regular season (4th) and 78.0% in the playoffs.
P1 Result
Montreal is +195 to win the first period, while Buffalo is +185.
- Here are their first period records in 2025/26 (including playoffs).
| Total | Home | Road | Last 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal | 33-27-35 | 16-13-18 | 17-14-17 | 5-2-3 |
| Buffalo | 33-30-31 | 20-14-13 | 13-16-18 | 5-3-2 |
To Go To Overtime
Monday's matchup is +260 to go to overtime.
- The Canadiens have played in 28 games that have gone to overtime this season (including playoffs), while the Sabres have appeared in 18.
To Go To a Shootout
- The Canadiens have played in 9 games that have gone to a shootout this season (including playoffs), while the Sabres have appeared in 6.
Last Time They Met
The Sabres recorded a lopsided 8-3 victory against the Canadiens at Bell Centre on Saturday. The series is now tied at 3-3. Tage Thompson led the way to that result, recording 1 goal and 3 assists.