On Tuesday, the Buffalo Sabres visit the Montreal Canadiens for Game 4 of their Eastern Conference Second Round playoff series at Bell Centre in Montreal. The Sabres opened the series with a strong 4-2 road win in Game 1. But they have since dropped two straight. Including a tough 6-2 loss in Game 3, where they struggled defensively after an early lead from Tage Thompson.
Buffalo, the Atlantic Division winners with a 50-23-9 regular season record, relies on stars like Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, Alex Tuch, and Zach Benson. In addition to hot goaltending from Alex Lyon, who has been stellar in the postseason. Their NHL betting challenge is to tighten up defensively and generate consistent offense on the road against Montreal’s depth.
The Canadiens have momentum from back-to-back home wins. Specifically, they are showcasing strong secondary scoring from players like Alex Newhook. Additionally, there are contributions across the lineup from Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Lane Hutson, and Kirby Dach. Montreal, which finished third in the Atlantic at 48-24-10, has benefited from solid goaltending and timely special teams play. Correlate: they are using their speed and home-crowd energy to their advantage.
Buffalo Sabres at Montreal Canadiens NHL Betting Information
| Date and Time: | Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 7:00 pm ET. |
|---|---|
| Location: | Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. |
| TV Coverage: | ESPN |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sabres | +1½ ( -220 ) | 6 ( -125 ) | +105 |  |
| Canadiens | -1½ ( +180 ) | 6 ( +105 ) | -135 | |
| ||||
On Tuesday, May 12, 2026, the Buffalo Sabres visit the Montreal Canadiens for Game 4 of their Eastern Conference Second Round playoff series at Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM Eastern. The game airs on ESPN in the US.
This Game 4 is pivotal for the Sabres to avoid a 3-1 deficit heading back home, while the Canadiens aim to push closer to advancing. Expect a high-intensity, physical battle with Montreal, favored at home. But Buffalo possesses the talent to even the series if their top players and goaltending deliver. The sports betting series has already shown it can swing quickly between these two young, talented Atlantic rivals.
Buffalo Sabres Team Overview
Offensively, Buffalo ranks among the better teams with a balanced attack led by center Tage Thompson. In sum, he posted 40 goals and 81 points in the regular season. Alex Tuch has been a playoff standout with multiple goals. While Zach Benson, Josh Doan, and others provide speed, skill, and secondary scoring
Defensively and in net, the Sabres boast one of the strongest blue lines in the East. Specifically featuring Rasmus Dahlin as a dynamic leader, along with Owen Power, Bowen Byram, and Mattias Samuelsson. They control possession well and limit high-danger chances. In turn, goaltending has been a bright spot with Alex Lyon delivering standout performances in the postseason.
Montreal Canadiens Team Overview
Offensively, the Canadiens feature a balanced and opportunistic attack led by captain Nick Suzuki. He posted 101 points in the regular season and continues to drive play in the NHL betting postseason. While Alex Newhook has emerged as a playoff hero with multiple multi-goal games. Contributors like Kirby Dach, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Lane Hutson on the back end. In addition, secondary pieces provide speed, creativity, and depth scoring that has overwhelmed opponents at times. Their power play has been effective. And they excel at transitions and generating high-quality opportunities.
Defensively and in net, Montreal relies on a mobile blue line featuring Hutson’s offensive upside, Kaiden Guhle’s physicality, and strong structure. Furthermore, Goaltending has been a major strength with Jakub Dobes rising quickly as a reliable postseason option alongside Samuel Montembeault.
SBG Free Picks
To summarize, Montreal has won its last two home games convincingly, thanks to strong depth, scoring momentum, and home crowd energy. While the Sabres have shown defensive vulnerabilities after dropping back-to-back contests. Finally, this series has produced high-scoring games with plenty of offensive chances from both young, talented lineups.
SBG Best Bet: Montreal Canadiens and Over the Total.