This is the closest we’ll get to a Canadian matchup in these Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Montreal Canadiens, who can’t wait to tell you they are better than the rest of Canada, secured a dramatic Game 7 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday night to advance. Their reward is facing the Buffalo Sabres, making their first playoff appearance in more than a decade. Only a quick jaunt across the Canadian border, Sabres fans can put down as much Labatt and Tim Horton’s as their counterparts up north. But only one team can move on to the Eastern Conference Finals.
The two teams are deadlocked to win the series at -110 on the DraftKings Sportsbook.
Let’s dig into a prediction, pick, and best bet for this rivalry series.
Sabres vs. Canadiens series preview
Buffalo Sabres
This season has been nothing short of incredible for the Buffalo Sabres. One of the youngest playoff teams in recent memory, 19 of the top 20 Sabres skaters sorted by total ice time are under 30 years old. Tage Thompson turned in yet another 40-goal season, while Rasmus Dahlin is sure to get some Norris votes. But the strength of this team is its depth: 10 different skaters picked up at least 40 points, while 14 of the top 20 skaters finished with a positive plus-minus rating. It’s an extremely well-built team, and that was on display in the first round against the Boston Bruins.
After a shaky start, Buffalo held Boston to only five total goals over the last four games of the series, winning three of those four. The big change was turning to Alex Lyon in goal; the veteran journeyman started all four of those games, and has a shimmering 1.14 GAA with a .955 save percentage. A hot goalie can take a team far in these playoffs, especially behind a strong defense and deep offense.
Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens sure know about a hot tender. Young Jakub Dobes locked in for the final three games against the Lightning: in Game 5, he saved 38/40 shots in a win, then 32/33 in an overtime loss, before an exceptional 28/29 in an incredible Game 7 victory where the Canadiens won 2-1 despite a 29-9 shots-on-goal deficit. That historic win felt appropriate for what has been an incredible season for this young core.
If the Sabres are young, the Canadiens are infantile. In descending order, Montreal’s top five scorers are 26, 25, 21, 21, and 20 years old. Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, the top two scorers, have been plying their trade up north for quite some time. But the injection of the new young trio—Lane Hutson, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Ivan Demidov—has taken their games to a new level. Suzuki recorded the first 100-point campaign of his career, while Caufield cracked the 50-goal plateau. Hutson’s presence as an elite puck-moving blueliner helps to bring this attack together.
Montreal doesn’t boast the depth Buffalo possesses, especially on defense. But they have quality veterans down the roster to support their young stars and bring this roster together. With their high-end talent and a hot goaltender, this team has a dangerous look about them.
Sabres vs. Canadiens second-round series prediction, pick
It’s rare you see a dead-even second-round draw like this. And it’s well-earned. Buffalo was the better team during the regular season, both in record and goals for/against. But Montreal’s takedown of a Lightning team full of elite talent and championship experience is tough to ignore. Still, Buffalo has the defensive personnel to contain Montreal’s top talents, and their ability to roll four lines comfortably will make a big difference in a physical, low-scoring series. The Sabres will advance to their first conference finals since 2007-08 in convincing fashion.
