A close NHL matchup is expected on Thursday when the Montreal Canadiens (28-15-7) host the Buffalo Sabres (27-17-5) at Bell Centre. The Sabres are underdogs (+100 on the moneyline) against the Canadiens (-120) ahead of the outing, which begins at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

Check out all the latest Hockey betting previews!

Canadiens vs. Sabres Betting Lines

• Favorite: Canadiens (-120)
• Underdog: Sabres (+100)
• Over/under: 6.5

Canadiens vs. Sabres Quick Facts

• Montreal and its opponent have combined to score more than 6.5 goals in 30 of 50 games this season.
• So far this season, 49.0% of Buffalo’s games (24/49) have had more goals than Thursday’s over/under of 6.5.
• These two teams combine to score 6.7 goals per game, 0.2 more than the over/under set for this match.
• These two clubs give up 6.4 goals per game combined, 0.1 fewer than this game’s over/under.

Canadiens Stats, Moneyline & Leaders

Canadiens Season Stat Insights

• The Canadiens net the third-most goals in the league, averaging 3.4 per game for a total of 170 this season.
• Montreal is ranked 24th in NHL action in goals against this season, having allowed 163 (3.3 per game).
• The team is ranked 12th in goal differential at +7.
• The 34 power-play goals Montreal has put up this season have come on 145 chances, ninth-best in the NHL.
• The Canadiens have the league’s ninth-best power-play conversion rate at 23.45%.
• Montreal has scored a total of four shorthanded goals this season.
• The Canadiens kill 77.44% of their opponent’s power plays, the 26th-ranked penalty-kill percentage in the NHL.
• The Canadiens’ players win 49.9% of their faceoffs to rank 18th in the league.
• Montreal scores on 13% of its shots as a team, ranking second in the league.
• The Canadiens have yet to shut out an opponent this season, averaging 21.7 hits and 16.6 blocked shots per game.

Canadiens Moneyline

• Through 23 games as the moneyline favorite this season, Montreal has been victorious 13 times.
• In 21 games with moneyline oddds lower than -120, the Canadiens have 12 wins.
• The moneyline odds say Montreal has a 54.5% chance of winning this game.

Canadiens Leaders

• Nicholas Suzuki: 15 goals and 40 assists
• Lane Hutson: nine goals and 43 assists
• Cole Caufield: 25 goals and 24 assists
• Jakub Dobes: 15-5-3 record, .887 save percentage, 66 goals given up

Need to know more about sports betting before you put down a wager on Canadiens vs. Sabres? Here’s everything you need to know about how to bet.

Sabres Stats, Moneyline & Leaders

Sabres Season Stats Insights

• The Sabres have the league’s 11th-ranked scoring offense (160 total goals, 3.3 per game).
• Buffalo has given up 153 total goals (3.1 per game) to rank 19th.
• Their 12th-ranked goal differential is +7.
• Buffalo has put up 28 power-play goals this season (on 145 chances). That ranks 19th in the NHL.
• The Sabres have the NHL’s 20th-ranked power-play conversion rate of 19.31%.
• Buffalo has recorded six shorthanded goals.
• The Sabres’ seventh-best penalty kill rate is 82.84%.
• The Sabres win 44.8% of their faceoffs. That’s the 32nd-ranked rate in the NHL.
• Buffalo is shooting 11.8% (seventh in the league).
• The Sabres have yet to shut out an opponent this season.

Sabres Moneyline Insights

• The Sabres have been listed as the underdog 25 times this season, and upset their opponent 13 times.
• Buffalo has gone 12-10 when oddsmakers have listed them as underdogs of +100 or longer on the moneyline.
• The moneyline set for this outing implies a 50.0% chance for the Sabres to win.

Sabres Leaders

• Tage Thompson: 26 goals and 25 assists
• Alex Tuch: 16 goals and 24 assists
• Rasmus Dahlin: seven goals and 29 assists
• Alex Lyon: 11-6-3 record, .906 save percentage, 57 goals allowed