bayesRatings

Canadiens at Sabres

NHL · Thursday, Jan 15 · 6:00 PM CT · KeyBank Center · Final MTL 3 – BUF 5

Final Box Score

from the game summary
Team123T
MTL2103
BUF2125
Team box
MTL·BUF
23
shots
27
2 of 3
power play
2 of 4
58.9
faceoff %
41.1
26
hits
21
18
blocked shots
6
12
penalty minutes
10
Top performers
PlayerTeamGASOG
Tage ThompsonBUF323
Cole CaufieldMTL115
Nick SuzukiMTL112
Josh DoanBUF111
Noah OstlundBUF023
Lane HutsonMTL021
Goalies
GoalieTeamSASVSV%
Jacob FowlerMTL2622.846
Colten EllisBUF2320.870

For context, not in our forecast.

Game Flow

score margin
BUF +3
MTL +3
P1P2P3
largest lead: BUF 2 · MTL 1lead changes: 3

For context, not in our forecast.

Final · our forecast was MTL 46%, BUF 54% · Updated Jan 15

Expected margin
Even
Expected score
BUF 3.7 – 3.2 MTL
Expected total
6.9
CanadiensThe matchupSabres
+117Our fair odds−117
3.2Expected goals3.7
+0.02Power rating+0.01
3.4Goals / game3.3
3.3Allowed / game3.1
26.2Shots / game28.0
49.7Faceoff %45.0
21.6Hits / game18.9
26−21Season record25−20
6−4Last 108−2

Prediction markets

Kalshi · Polymarket US · ProphetX · Novig
MTL chance · BUF chance
Our model fair46.0%54.0%
Kalshino two-sided price
Polymarket USno two-sided price
ProphetXno two-sided price
Novigno two-sided price
Full price table
TeamOur modelfairKalshi Polymarket US ProphetX Novig 
Moneyline
MTLMontreal Canadiens+11746%————
BUFBuffalo Sabres−11754%————
Spreadabout even
MTLMontreal Canadiens+0.4our margin————
BUFBuffalo Sabres−0.4our margin————
Totalwe expect 6.9
Over6.9our total————
Under6.9our total————

These are each venue’s last prices before the start (Kalshi’s moneyline: its pre-game close). Odds are the price to buy that side now, taker fee included; the small percent is the implied chance of that same price. Highlighted is the best price in the row among venues on the same line. — means not listed (hover or tap for why). A market price is not the true chance of winning.

Margin range

Even game expected
Montreal Canadiens by 6 goals: <1%Montreal Canadiens by 5 goals: 2%Montreal Canadiens by 4 goals: 5%Montreal Canadiens by 3 goals: 9%Montreal Canadiens by 2 goals: 8%Montreal Canadiens by 1 goal: 22%Buffalo Sabres by 1 goal: 18%Buffalo Sabres by 2 goals: 11%Buffalo Sabres by 3 goals: 14%Buffalo Sabres by 4 goals: 8%Buffalo Sabres by 5 goals: 3%Buffalo Sabres by 6 goals: 1%
← MTL wins byBUF wins by →
Buffalo Sabres wins by 2 or more36%
Buffalo Sabres wins by 3 or more26%
Montreal Canadiens wins by 2 or more24%
Decided by one goal40%

Centered on the expected margin above; shape from each team's expected goals, with ties after regulation settled as one-goal games, matched to 7,066 past NHL games.

Total range

6.9 expected
1 goals: 1%2 goals: 1%3 goals: 7%4 goals: 6%5 goals: 17%6 goals: 11%7 goals: 20%8 goals: 9%9 goals: 13%10 goals: 5%11 goals: 5%12 goals: 2%13 goals: 2%14 goals: <1%15 goals: <1%
Total goals, both teams
Total over 5.567%
Total over 6.556%
Total over 7.536%
Total from 6 to 730%

Centered on the expected total above; shape from each team's expected goals, with ties after regulation settled as one-goal games, matched to 7,066 past NHL games.

Starting Goalies

from the box score
MTLJacob Fowler G · last 5 starts: .900 save %, 2.43 GAAstarted
BUFColten Ellis G · last 5 starts: .885 save %, 3.57 GAAstarted

Starting goalies are part of our forecast.

Rest and Schedule

before this game
MTL·BUF
Jan 13 at WSH
last game
Jan 14 vs PHI
1 day
days of rest
0 days
no
back-to-back
yes
4
games in last 7 days
4
2nd straight road game
home / road
4th straight home game

For context, not in our forecast.

Team Comparison

2025–26 season · box-score averages from 45+ games
MTL·BUF
+0.02
rating (0 = average)
+0.01
3.4
goals / game
3.3
3.3
goals allowed / game
3.1
26−21
season record
25−20
13−11
home record
15−8
13−10
away record
10−12
L1
streak
W1
6−4
last 10
8−2
26.2
shots / game
28.0
49.7
faceoff %
45.0
21.6
hits / game
18.9
16.6
blocked shots / game
15.2
4.4
takeaways / game
5.1
13.5
giveaways / game
16.0

Rating Trend

MTL · BUF · 90 days
Montreal CanadiensBuffalo Sabres
Rating (0 = average team)

Head to Head

last 10 meetings · BUF 2−8
Oct 20, 2025at MTLMTL 4 − 2
Mar 3, 2025at MTLMTL 4 − 3 OT
Mar 1, 2025at BUFMTL 4 − 2
Dec 17, 2024at MTLMTL 6 − 1
Nov 11, 2024at BUFMTL 7 − 5
Feb 21, 2024at MTLBUF 3 − 2
Jan 4, 2024at MTLBUF 6 − 1
Dec 9, 2023at BUFMTL 3 − 2 SO
Oct 23, 2023at BUFMTL 3 − 1
Mar 27, 2023at BUFMTL 4 − 3 SO

MTL · Last 10

6−4 · streak L1
Jan 13at WSH2 − 3L
Jan 12vs VAN6 − 3W
Jan 10vs DET0 − 4L
Jan 8vs FLA6 − 2W
Jan 7vs CGY4 − 1W
Jan 4at DAL4 − 3W
Jan 3at STL0 − 2L
Jan 1at CAR7 − 5W
Dec 30, 2025at FLA3 − 2W
Dec 28, 2025at TB4 − 5L

BUF · Last 10

8−2 · streak W1
Jan 14vs PHI5 − 2W
Jan 12vs FLA3 − 4L
Jan 10vs ANA5 − 3W
Jan 8at NYR5 − 2W
Jan 6vs VAN5 − 3W
Jan 3at CBJ1 − 5L
Dec 31, 2025at DAL4 − 1W
Dec 29, 2025at STL4 − 2W
Dec 27, 2025vs BOS4 − 1W
Dec 23, 2025at OTT3 − 2W