A trip to the Eastern Conference finals is on the line as the Montreal Canadiens clash with the Buffalo Sabres in Game 7 of their 2026 NHL playoff second-round matchup on Monday night. The winner will advance to face the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Canadiens (48-24-10), who finished third in the Atlantic Division with 106 points, are aiming to reach the conference finals for the first time since 2020-21. Meanwhile, the Sabres (50-23-9), who topped the Atlantic Division, seek their first conference finals appearance since 2006-07.

Face-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y. The Sabres enter the game as the -121 favorite (risk $121 to win $100), with the over/under for total goals set at 5.5. Before placing any bets, it’s crucial to check out the NHL predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model has simulated the game 10,000 times and has shown a strong track record with a +668 return on top-rated money-line NHL picks. Here are key betting insights for the matchup:

• Money Line: Canadiens +101, Sabres -121
• Over/Under: 5.5 goals
• Puck Line: Sabres -1.5 (+203)

Top predictions from the model suggest the Over is a favorable bet, hitting in four of the last six head-to-head matchups. The model projects:

• Cole Caufield (Montreal): 0.56 goals, 0.46 assists
• Jakub Dobes (Montreal): 23.3 saves, 3.22 goals allowed
• Tage Thompson (Buffalo): 0.54 goals, 0.53 assists
• Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (Buffalo): 19.3 saves, 3.03 goals allowed

The model anticipates a combined total of 6.6 goals, making the Over a strong play 62% of the time. For detailed predictions and betting strategies, refer to the SportsLine analysis.