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The Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres meet once again at KeyBank Center for Game 2 tonight.
Buffalo carries a 1-0 series lead, but my Canadiens vs. Sabres predictions and NHL picks suggest another tightly contested matchup, with Montreal pushing to even the series before heading back home.
Expect Ivan Demidov to make his presence felt for the Habs.
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UPDATE: Added prediction for who will win & goal scorer pick.
Canadiens vs Sabres Game 2 prediction tonight
Who will win Canadiens vs Sabres Game 2?
Canadiens: The Habs nabbed three games on the road from Tampa Bay last round and outshot Buffalo in Game 1 despite the unfavorable result. Jakub Dobes had his quietest night of the postseason, and I fully expect him to rebound accordingly for Game 2.
Canadiens vs Sabres best bet: Ivan Demidov Over 0.5 points (-110)
Ivan Demidov picked up an assist on the power play in Game 1 after a few quiet outings to conclude the first round.
He's set at fair odds to hit the scoresheet again in Game 2, and with the Montreal Canadiens controlling the play despite the loss in Game 1, I expect the young phenom to explode offensively against the Buffalo Sabres.
The 20-year-old had a quiet opening round against the Lightning, but in a more offense-centric matchup, he has a fantastic opportunity to hit the scoresheet aplenty.
Canadiens vs Sabres Game 2 same-game parlay
These two teams ranked fifth and seventh, respectively, in goals scored during the regular season, and hit the Over in Game 1. Furthermore, neither had a Top 10 defense this season.
This matchup has resulted in six or more total goals nine consecutive times dating back to November 2024.
Lane Hutson ranks second among all defensemen left in the postseason in average ice time (27:17) and has blocked 15 shots in eight playoff games. He's still logging heavy minutes despite the return of Noah Dobson.
Josh Doan registered two points in Game 1, averaged 2.07 shots/game during the regular season, and has compiled eight shots on goal in his last two games.
Canadiens vs Sabres SGP
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Over 5.5
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Lane Hutson Over 1.5 blocked shots
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Josh Doan Over 1.5 shots on goal
Canadiens vs Sabres Game 2 goal scorer pick
Nick Suzuki (+240)
The Habs' captain has scored in back-to-back games and has scored in three of his last four against Buffalo. He's seen an uptick in shot volume over the last few games, perhaps accommodating for his linemate Cole Caufield's lack of scoring.
Canadiens vs Sabres odds for Game 2 tonight
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Moneyline: Canadiens +114 | Sabres -129
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Puck Line: Canadiens +1.5 | Sabres -1.5
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Over/Under: Over 5.5 | Under 5.5
Canadiens vs Sabres trend
The Canadiens have hit the moneyline in 11 of their last 15 away games (+7.85 Units / 45% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Sabres.
How to watch Canadiens vs Sabres Game 2
Location
KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
Date
Friday, May 8, 2026
Puck drop
7 p.m. ET
TV
TNT, CBC
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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