The Montreal Canadiens have battled through a nail-biting first-round series in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, where every game against the Tampa Bay Lightning was decided by a single goal, including four overtime thrillers. After alternating wins and losses, they now aim for back-to-back victories as they face the Buffalo Sabres in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference second-round series at KeyBank Center on Wednesday.

Montreal advanced after a narrow 2-1 win in Game 7 despite managing only nine shots on goal. Meanwhile, Buffalo celebrates its first playoff series win since 2007, having defeated the Boston Bruins in six games, thanks to a solid defensive performance following the goaltending switch from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to Alex Lyon.

The two teams have a balanced rivalry, splitting their four regular-season matchups. Key players include:

• Tage Thompson of the Sabres, who notched seven points, including a hat trick in a 5-3 victory on January 15.
• Cole Caufield, who scored four goals against Buffalo during the regular season, leading to speculation about his potential performance in the upcoming game.

As for player prop betting, here are some top picks for Wednesday:

• Cole Caufield, Canadiens: Anytime goal scorer (+175, DraftKings). Although he scored only once in the first round, he previously excelled against Buffalo, hinting at a possible resurgence.
• Peyton Krebs, Sabres: 1+ points (+134, FanDuel). Krebs has been a consistent contributor, with six points this postseason, and is expected to maintain his scoring streak.
• Jackson LaCombe, Ducks: 1+ assists (+124, FanDuel). LaCombe leads defensemen in assists this postseason, showcasing his capability on the big stage.

As the playoff action intensifies, expect thrilling performances from these key players.