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Read Article Canadiens vs. Sabres prediction: Buffalo favored to win Game 7 [2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Nick Slade, Chief Content Officer
Get Montreal Canadiens vs Buffalo Sabres predictions for NHL Monday.
The Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens will lock horns in Game 7 of the NHL Playoffs at KeyBank Center on Monday, with puck drop at 7:30 PM ET.
Based on the latest simulation results, Dimers' proven NHL model gives the Sabres a slight edge with a 52% win probability over the Canadiens Game 7 matchup.
This article offers an expanded analysis of Monday's Canadiens vs. Sabres matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.
Habs vs. Sabres prediction: Who will win Game 7?
Using powerful machine learning and data, we have simulated the result of Monday's NHL Playoffs game between the Canadiens and Sabres, forming part of our NHL predictions coverage.
Our independent predictive model currently gives the Sabres a 52% chance of defeating the Canadiens in Game 7 of the series.
According to our model, the Canadiens (+1.5) have a 69% chance of covering the puck line, while the 5.5-goal over/under has a 55% chance of going over.
Canadiens vs. Sabres Game 7 odds
We have sourced the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Canadiens | Sabres |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | +1.5 (-245) | -1.5 (+200) |
| Moneyline | -102 | -115 |
| Total | o5.5 (-115) | u5.5 (+102) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Canadiens vs. Sabres picks and best bet for Game 7
After matching our probabilities against the best current odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | Canadiens +1.5 | -245 |
| Moneyline | Sabres | -115 |
| Total | Over 5.5 | -115 |
According to our NHL best bets, the top play to make on this game is Over 5.5 total goals.
These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.
Canadiens vs. Sabres player props
Who will score a goal in Canadiens vs. Sabres?
According to our model, Tage Thompson is most likely to score an anytime goal in Canadiens vs. Sabres.
Our projections give Thompson a 38.3% chance of scoring a goal at KeyBank Center, while the star is a 7.8% chance of netting the first goal the game.
Anytime goal scorer predictions
Montreal Canadiens
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Cole Caufield | 37.7% |
| Nick Suzuki | 29.8% |
| Alex Newhook | 29.2% |
| Ivan Demidov | 27.1% |
| Juraj Slafkovsky | 24.0% |
Buffalo Sabres
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Tage Thompson | 38.3% |
| Alex Tuch | 31.0% |
| Zach Benson | 28.3% |
| Josh Norris | 23.3% |
| Rasmus Dahlin | 20.3% |
First goal scorer predictions
Montreal Canadiens
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Cole Caufield | 8.0% |
| Nick Suzuki | 5.7% |
| Alex Newhook | 5.6% |
| Ivan Demidov | 5.1% |
| Juraj Slafkovsky | 4.5% |
Buffalo Sabres
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Tage Thompson | 7.8% |
| Alex Tuch | 5.6% |
| Zach Benson | 5.1% |
| Josh Norris | 4.2% |
| Rasmus Dahlin | 3.9% |
Habs vs. Sabres Game 7 updates and essential details
Monday's Game 7 between the Sabres and Canadiens in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is scheduled to commence at 7:30 PM ET.
- Who: Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres
- Date: Monday, May 18, 2026
- Time: 7:30 PM ET/4:30PM PT
- Venue: KeyBank Center
The Stanley Cup Playoffs (aka NHL Playoffs) is an elimination tournament in the National Hockey League to decide the winner of the Stanley Cup.
Sixteen teams, including the Canadiens and Sabres, reached the NHL Playoffs 2026, which consists of four rounds: the First Round, Second Round, Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Finals.
Each round of the NHL Playoffs is played as a best-of-seven series, with the first team to four wins progressing to the next round until a champion is crowned.
Conclusion
We predict the Sabres, with a 52% win probability, will likely beat the Canadiens in Monday's NHL matchup.
Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.
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Nick Slade, with nearly two decades of experience, is the Chief Content Officer at Cipher Sports Technology Group, overseeing content for Dimers. He specializes in soccer, NBA, and NHL betting, leveraging predictive analytics and machine learning to provide accurate betting insights.
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