Canadiens vs. Sabres prediction: Buffalo favored to win Saturday's NHL matchup [1/31/2026]

The Buffalo Sabres will take on the Montreal Canadiens in NHL action at KeyBank Center on Saturday, commencing at 7:00 PM ET.

Based on updated simulations, Dimers' proven NHL model predicts the Sabres as the most likely winner of the Canadiens vs. Sabres game.

This article offers further insights into Saturday's matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.

Habs vs. Sabres prediction: Who will win and cover?

Using innovative machine learning and data analysis, we have simulated the outcome of Saturday's NHL matchup between the Canadiens and Sabres 10,000 times as part of our NHL predictions coverage.

Our leading predictive model currently gives the Sabres a 54% chance of beating the Canadiens.

According to our model, the Canadiens (+1.5) have a 66% chance of covering the puck line, while the over/under total of 6.5 goals has an equal 50-50 chance of hitting.

Canadiens vs. Sabres odds

We have researched the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

Bet Type	Canadiens	Sabres
Puck Line	+1.5 (-218)	-1.5 (+186)
Moneyline	+110	-130
Total	o6.5 (-120)	u6.5 (+102)

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Canadiens vs. Sabres picks and best bet

After matching our probabilities against the best available 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	Sabres -1.5	+186
Moneyline	Sabres	-130
Total	Under 6.5	+102

According to our NHL best bets, the top play to make on this game is Under 6.5 total goals.

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 42.6% chance of scoring a goal at KeyBank Center, while the star is an 8.7% chance of netting the first goal the game.

Anytime goal scorer predictions

Montreal Canadiens

Player	Anytime Goal Probability
Cole Caufield	37.8%
Nick Suzuki	27.3%
Ivan Demidov	27.0%
Alexandre Texier	25.1%
Juraj Slafkovsky	24.5%

Buffalo Sabres

Player	Anytime Goal Probability
Tage Thompson	42.6%
Alex Tuch	34.4%
Jason Zucker	26.1%
Rasmus Dahlin	25.2%
Zach Benson	23.7%

First goal scorer predictions

Montreal Canadiens

Player	First Goal Probability
Cole Caufield	6.8%
Ivan Demidov	4.6%
Nick Suzuki	4.5%
Alexandre Texier	4.3%
Juraj Slafkovsky	4.3%

Buffalo Sabres

Player	First Goal Probability
Tage Thompson	8.7%
Alex Tuch	5.8%
Zach Benson	4.5%
Jason Zucker	4.0%
Rasmus Dahlin	4.0%

Habs vs. Sabres game-day updates and essential details

Saturday's action between the Sabres and Canadiens at KeyBank Center is scheduled to commence at 7:00 PM ET.

• Who: Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres
• Date: Saturday, January 31, 2026
• Time: 7:00 PM ET/4:00PM PT
• Venue: KeyBank Center

Conclusion

We predict the Sabres, with a 54% win probability, will likely beat the Canadiens on Saturday.

AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Canadiens vs. Sabres insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are based on the latest data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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