Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NHL match
The Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens enter their clash at the Bell Centre in contrasting spirits. The Canadiens suffered a defeat in a crucial game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, while the Sabres persevered to secure a win over the Calgary Flames. Who will fortune favour in this encounter?
Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens' struggles often begin early, with them collapsing by the first period. In their six-game losing streak, they have trailed after the first 20 minutes in four instances, at best holding a 0:0 draw heading into the second period. How can they aim for victory when they score no more than three goals per game?
Buffalo Sabres
In their latest outing, the Sabres also netted two unanswered goals during the first period, which should serve as a warning to the hosts. One of these goals came on the power play (1 out of 2). In fact, they have claimed the first period in four of the previous five games, which helped them secure match victories in three of those contests. Although the Calgary Flames managed a comeback to level by game’s end, they ultimately fell in the shootout. Can the Montreal Canadiens manage something similar?
Montreal Canadiens vs Buffalo Sabres Prediction
A clear pattern is emerging. True, the Montreal Canadiens only played two of these winless games on the road, but one of their home defeats included the first-period loss to the Seattle Kraken (1:4). This marks their heaviest defeat since the start of the regular season (2-8). Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabres have shown they can dispatch teams like the New York Rangers away in such fashion (6:1). What can the weakest team in the East do against them? Very little. Expect the visitors to claim the first period victory.
