Buffalo Sabres vs Montreal Canadiens Prediction, 3/3/2025 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Buffalo Sabres vs Montreal Canadiens

Date: Monday, March 3, 2025

Location: Bell Centre in Montreal, QC

TV: TSN

Odds/Point Spread: Sabres (+126) Canadiens (-152)

The Montreal Canadiens (28-26-5) welcome the Buffalo Sabres (24-28-5) at Bell Centre on Monday. The moneyline on this game has the Sabres at +126 while the Canadiens are priced at -152. The total is set at 6.

The Buffalo Sabres will need a bounce back game after taking a 5-2 loss against the Hurricanes in their previous game. Buffalo compiled 9 penalty minutes in this outing. The Sabres offense left a lot to be desired in the defeat. In addition, they had 3 power play chances and netted 1 goal. In the matchup, they were able to notch a goal on 2 out of the 15 shots they put on goal.

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When talking about their goal scoring prowess, the Buffalo Sabres have racked up 182 goals (13th in the National Hockey League) on the year and have given up 193. For the current season, they have earned 53 points and their points percentage comes in at .465. Buffalo has accounted for 165 power play chances and they have tallied 28 goals during those chances, giving them a percentage of 16.97%. While at even strength, the Sabres have surrendered 154 goals while scoring 154 on the offensive side of the ice. Buffalo has attempted 1,587 shots and is the owner of a shooting percentage of 11.5%. The Sabres so far have had 1,658 shots attempted against them and have earned a save percentage of .884. Buffalo Sabres opponents have 171 power play opportunities (11th in professional hockey) and have earned 39 goals in those chances.

The player between the pipes for this game is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Luukkonen has taken the ice for 142 contests throughout his NHL career. He has an overall mark of 67-57-14 and got the start in 138 games. Opponents have been able to score 404 goals against Luukkonen in his pro hockey career and his goals against average is 4.17. Luukkonen has had 4,085 shots taken against him and has accrued 3,681 total saves. His save percentage is .901 during his 5,811 minutes in the crease. In his career, Luukkonen has recorded 75 quality starts and his rate for quality starts is .543.

In their last contest, Montreal faced the Sharks in a game where the Canadiens earned a win by a mark of 4-3. They had 2 power play opportunities in this game but weren't able to notch a goal. The Canadiens recorded 4 goals out of the 33 shots on goal they tried.

The Canadiens have tallied 137 goals at even strength and 37 goals (15th in professional hockey) while having more men on the ice. Montreal has taken 1,534 shots (30th in the league) and has accumulated a shot percentage of 11.34%, while allowing the other team 1,707 shots. So far this season, the Montreal Canadiens have notched a total of 174 goals, 61 points, in addition to a points percentage of .517. They have allowed 197 goals to be scored by way of 162 goals at even strength and 35 goals while they were shorthanded. They have a tally of 173 power play opportunities and they have a power play rate of 21.39%. They have recorded a penalty kill rate of 81.77% on the other teams 192 opportunities on the power play, and their save percentage currently sits at 88.5%.

On the other side of the ice you are going to see Sam Montembeault between the pipes. He has tallied 5,038 saves out of the 5,610 shots taken against him, giving him a save % of .898. Montembeault is the owner of a career record of 70-81-24 and has been in goal for 189 games. He has started in 171 games and has played 8,101 minutes. Montembeault's quality start percentage comes out to 52.0% and he has made 89 quality starts in his NHL career. His opponents are averaging 4.24 goals per game and he has given up 572 goals altogether.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Guy's Pick: Take Montreal (-152)

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