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Buffalo Sabres vs Montréal Canadiens prediction, odds, win probability, and matchup analysis for January 22, 2026

NHL matchup

Buffalo Sabres at Montréal Canadiens

View the PlayerWON Model V2 prediction, fair odds, market comparison, team performance, and recent head-to-head history for January 22, 2026.

January 22, 2026 · 6:00 PM CST
Model V2 prediction is not available yet for this game. View final boxscore
Recent usage

Forward trios & defense pairs

Most-used five-on-five trio and defense pair from each team's last 10 completed regular-season games before Jan 22. Historical usage, not confirmed lines for this matchup.

Buffalo Sabres

10 / 10 games covered · Minimum 5 shared minutes

Forward trio

49:46 together · 9 games

xG share49.5%
Corsi for / against
41 / 41
Fenwick for / against
33 / 37
Corsi share
50.0%
Fenwick share
47.1%
xG for / against
2.94 / 2.99
Defense pair

126:21 together · 10 games

xG share42.4%
Corsi for / against
95 / 142
Fenwick for / against
70 / 102
Corsi share
40.1%
Fenwick share
40.7%
xG for / against
4.46 / 6.07
All observed combinations

Montréal Canadiens

10 / 10 games covered · Minimum 5 shared minutes

Defense pair

133:17 together · 10 games

xG share52.4%
Corsi for / against
138 / 140
Fenwick for / against
98 / 97
Corsi share
49.6%
Fenwick share
50.3%
xG for / against
6.90 / 6.26
All observed combinations

Ambiguous events and unreliable intervals are excluded. xG requires complete current scoring for each contributing game. These summaries do not change the model prediction.

Goalie context

Recent starting goalies

Each team's last recorded starter before this matchup. These are not confirmed or projected starters for this game. Results cover their last 5 appearances before the matchup.

Alex Lyon

Buffalo Sabres · Last start: Jan 20

5 / 5 appearances covered

Shots faced
139
Save %
91.4
Goals allowed
12
Close-range shots %
32.4

Jakub Dobes

Montréal Canadiens · Last start: Jan 20

5 / 5 appearances covered

Shots faced
114
Save %
86.8
Goals allowed
15
Close-range shots %
32.5
Pregame context · xG V1

Recent expected goals

Last 10 completed regular-season games before Jan 22, 2026. This game and later dates are excluded.

Buffalo Sabres

xG for / game
3.01
xG against / game
3.33
xG differential / game
-0.32

10 / 10 selected games fully scored. Historical chance quality, not a forecast of this game's goals.

Montréal Canadiens

xG for / game
3.36
xG against / game
3.29
xG differential / game
0.06

10 / 10 selected games fully scored. Historical chance quality, not a forecast of this game's goals.

Recent play-by-play

Team tendencies before this game

Last 10 completed regular-season games before Jan 22, 2026. This game and later dates are excluded.

Buffalo Sabres

10 / 10 games covered

Attempts / game
51.2
Corsi share (%)
43.9
Fenwick share (%)
45.0
Faceoff win %
46.9
Penalties / game
3.8

Shots / game: 24.6 · Shooting: 15.9% · Avg distance: 33.4 ft

Montréal Canadiens

10 / 10 games covered

Attempts / game
58.6
Corsi share (%)
50.0
Fenwick share (%)
52.1
Faceoff win %
50.7
Penalties / game
4.4

Shots / game: 27.8 · Shooting: 12.6% · Avg distance: 32.5 ft

Team comparison

Season and recent form

Season overview
Buffalo Sabres BUF
Metric
Montréal Canadiens MTL
11Points14
0.500Points %0.636
31Goals for36
41Goals against36
-10Goal differential0
OT1Current streakW2
Road versus home
Buffalo Sabres BUF road
Metric
Montréal Canadiens MTL home
5Games6
1Wins3
5Points7
-5Goal differential-3
Last 10 games
Buffalo Sabres BUF
Metric
Montréal Canadiens MTL
4-3-3Record5-3-2
11Points12
28Goals for33
35Goals against34
-7Goal differential-1
History

Last 10 head-to-head games

Buffalo Sabres BUF 3 wins
10 games reviewed
Montréal Canadiens MTL 7 wins
Total goals30 – 37
Goal differential -7 / +7
Goals per game3.0 / 3.7
Shots per game30.5 / 27.5
Date Matchup Score Shots Details
Jan 15, 2026
Montréal Canadiens Montréal Canadiens at Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres
3 - 5 23 - 27 View
Oct 20, 2025
Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres at Montréal Canadiens Montréal Canadiens
2 - 4 32 - 31 View
Mar 3, 2025
Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres at Montréal Canadiens Montréal Canadiens
3 - 4 36 - 20 View
Mar 1, 2025
Montréal Canadiens Montréal Canadiens at Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres
4 - 2 29 - 25 View
Dec 17, 2024
Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres at Montréal Canadiens Montréal Canadiens
1 - 6 21 - 27 View
Nov 11, 2024
Montréal Canadiens Montréal Canadiens at Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres
7 - 5 23 - 18 View
Feb 21, 2024
Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres at Montréal Canadiens Montréal Canadiens
3 - 2 23 - 31 View
Jan 4, 2024
Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres at Montréal Canadiens Montréal Canadiens
6 - 1 38 - 33 View
Dec 9, 2023
Montréal Canadiens Montréal Canadiens at Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres
3 - 2 31 - 48 View
Oct 23, 2023
Montréal Canadiens Montréal Canadiens at Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres
3 - 1 27 - 37 View
This matchup prediction is generated using playerWON’s Model V2, incorporating team performance, recent form, and home/away effects. View full model performance to compare results across games.