bayesRatings

Sabres at Canadiens

NHL · Thursday, Jan 22 · 6:00 PM CT · Bell Centre · Final BUF 4 – MTL 2

Final Box Score

from the game summary
Team123T
BUF2114
MTL0202
Team box
BUF·MTL
17
shots
34
0 of 2
power play
0 of 3
35.7
faceoff %
64.3
26
hits
28
18
blocked shots
16
10
penalty minutes
8
Top performers
PlayerTeamGASOG
Nick SuzukiMTL113
Jason ZuckerBUF102
Zach BensonBUF102
Cole CaufieldMTL102
Beck MalenstynBUF101
Peyton KrebsBUF101
Goalies
GoalieTeamSASVSV%
Ukko-Pekka LuukkonenBUF3432.941
Sam MontembeaultMTL1613.812

For context, not in our forecast.

Game Flow

score margin
MTL +3
BUF +3
P1P2P3
largest lead: MTL 0 · BUF 3lead changes: 0

For context, not in our forecast.

Final · our forecast was BUF 46%, MTL 54% · Updated Jan 22

Expected margin
Even
Expected score
MTL 3.5 – 3.4 BUF
Expected total
6.9
SabresThe matchupCanadiens
+116Our fair odds−116
3.4Expected goals3.5
+0.02Power rating+0.00
3.3Goals / game3.4
3.1Allowed / game3.3
27.8Shots / game26.1
45.0Faceoff %50.0
19.0Hits / game21.7
27−22Season record28−22
6−4Last 106−4

Prediction markets

Kalshi · Polymarket US · ProphetX · Novig
BUF chance · MTL chance
Our model fair46.2%53.8%
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
BUFBuffalo Sabres+11646%————
MTLMontreal Canadiens−11654%————
Spreadabout even
BUFBuffalo Sabres+0.1our margin————
MTLMontreal Canadiens−0.1our 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
Buffalo Sabres by 6 goals: <1%Buffalo Sabres by 5 goals: 2%Buffalo Sabres by 4 goals: 6%Buffalo Sabres by 3 goals: 11%Buffalo Sabres by 2 goals: 9%Buffalo Sabres by 1 goal: 17%Montreal Canadiens by 1 goal: 23%Montreal Canadiens by 2 goals: 10%Montreal Canadiens by 3 goals: 12%Montreal Canadiens by 4 goals: 6%Montreal Canadiens by 5 goals: 2%Montreal Canadiens by 6 goals: <1%
← BUF wins byMTL wins by →
Montreal Canadiens wins by 2 or more30%
Montreal Canadiens wins by 3 or more21%
Buffalo Sabres wins by 2 or more29%
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: 18%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
BUFUkko-Pekka Luukkonen G · last 5 starts: .906 save %, 3.00 GAAstarted
MTLSam Montembeault G · last 5 starts: .906 save %, 2.90 GAAstarted

Starting goalies are part of our forecast.

Rest and Schedule

before this game
BUF·MTL
Jan 20 at NSH
last game
Jan 20 vs MIN
1 day
days of rest
1 day
no
back-to-back
no
4
games in last 7 days
3
3rd straight road game
home / road
2nd straight home game

For context, not in our forecast.

Team Comparison

2025–26 season · box-score averages from 49+ games
BUF·MTL
+0.02
rating (0 = average)
+0.00
3.3
goals / game
3.4
3.1
goals allowed / game
3.3
27−22
season record
28−22
16−9
home record
14−11
11−13
away record
14−11
W1
streak
W2
6−4
last 10
6−4
27.8
shots / game
26.1
45.0
faceoff %
50.0
19.0
hits / game
21.7
15.1
blocked shots / game
16.6
5.1
takeaways / game
4.4
16.0
giveaways / game
13.6

Rating Trend

BUF · MTL · 97 days
Buffalo SabresMontreal Canadiens
Rating (0 = average team)

Head to Head

last 10 meetings · MTL 7−3
Jan 15at BUFBUF 5 − 3
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

BUF · Last 10

6−4 · streak W1
Jan 20at NSH5 − 3W
Jan 19at CAR1 − 2L
Jan 17vs MIN4 − 5L
Jan 15vs MTL5 − 3W
Jan 14vs PHI5 − 2W
Jan 12vs FLA3 − 4L
Jan 10vs ANA5 − 3W
Jan 8at NYR5 − 2W
Jan 6vs VAN5 − 3W
Jan 3at CBJ1 − 5L

MTL · Last 10

6−4 · streak W2
Jan 20vs MIN4 − 3W
Jan 17at OTT6 − 5W
Jan 15at BUF3 − 5L
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