The 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs kick off a thrilling second-round series on Wednesday as the Buffalo Sabres take on the Montreal Canadiens at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y., at 7 p.m. ET. The Sabres (50-23-9) are riding high after defeating Boston in six games, marking their first series win since 2007. Meanwhile, the Canadiens (48-24-10) triumphed over Tampa in a nail-biting seven-game series.

This matchup marks the eighth postseason meeting between these two franchises, with the Canadiens holding a narrow 4-3 series edge. In their four regular-season encounters, both teams split victories, indicating a competitive series ahead.

Betting Odds:

• Money Line: Sabres -136, Canadiens +115
• Over/Under: 5.5 goals
• Puck Line: Sabres -1.5 (+182)

The SportsLine Projection Model, which has successfully simulated NHL games 10,000 times, favors the Over on total goals, predicting at least six goals scored in this matchup. Historically, their encounters have been high-scoring, with an average of 7.3 combined goals over their last eight meetings.

Key players to watch include Cole Caufield and Tage Thompson, projected to average 1.02 goals together. The model forecasts a total of 5.9 combined goals, making the Over a favorable option in betting.

As the teams prepare for this highly anticipated Game 1, fans can expect an exhilarating showdown filled with skill and intensity. For more detailed picks and predictions, check out the insights from the SportsLine model.