The Montreal Canadiens will face the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, January 31, in a massive Atlantic Division matchup.
My Canadiens vs. Sabres predictions and NHL picks suggest a red-hot Mike Matheson will continue to produce, while Jakub Dobes will look to further establish himself as the go-to man in the Habs' crease.
Canadiens vs Sabres prediction
Canadiens vs Sabres best bet: Mike Matheson Over 1.5 shots (+100)
Perhaps no Montreal Canadiens defenseman has been on more of a tear than Mike Matheson over the last few weeks. He's on a six-game assist streak and has hit the Over for shots in five straight games.
He's tied for eighth among blueliners in shots since January 20.
The Canadiens allot a sizeable chunk of ice time to himself, Lane Hutson, and Noah Dobson, and it's Matheson that leads the group with an average of 24:46 per game — good for ninth in the NHL.
Opportunities for shots on goal will undoubtedly be there tonight. The Buffalo Sabres rank 26th in shots allowed, and the Quebec native put up two against them just over a week ago.
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Canadiens vs Sabres same-game parlay
The Habs have turned to Jakub Dobes in goal against two of the league's top teams in the Vegas Golden Knights and the Colorado Avalanche this week, and he earned the win in both while comfortably hitting the Over for saves.
He'll look to make it three in a row tonight.
Captain Nick Suzuki is enjoying a generous stretch with 13 assists in his last 13 games and eight in his last seven. He's recorded a helper in all three games against Buffalo this season.
Canadiens vs Sabres SGP
- Mike Matheson Over 1.5 shots
- Jakub Dobes Over 23.5 saves
- Nick Suzuki Over 0.5 assists
Canadiens vs Sabres odds
- Moneyline: Canadiens +110 | Sabres -130
- Puck Line: Canadiens +1.5 (-215) | Sabres -1.5 (+175)
- Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-125) | Under 6.5 (+105)
Canadiens vs Sabres trend
Montreal has won six of the last 10 games versus Buffalo, including five consecutive from November 2024 to October 2025. Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Sabres.
How to watch Canadiens vs Sabres
| Location | KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY |
| Date | Saturday, January 31, 2026 |
| Puck drop | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | Sportsnet East |
Canadiens vs Sabres latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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