One National Hockey League game on the Monday slate. Here are the best parlay angles and value bets for Canadiens vs Sabres.
Monday Night National Hockey League Betting: Montréal Canadiens @ Buffalo Sabres
Just one game on the Monday National Hockey League slate, but that does not mean there is a shortage of betting angles. The Montréal Canadiens travel to Buffalo to face the Sabres on Monday 18 May at 20:30 ET, and the markets are tight enough to suggest oddsmakers see this as a genuine coin-flip on the moneyline. Let's break down where the value lies and build the best parlay combinations from the available markets.
Game Overview and Market Breakdown
The moneyline is razor-thin - Montréal Canadiens at -105 (Bally Bet) and Buffalo Sabres at -111 (FanDuel). Neither side is a heavy favourite, which makes the puck-line spread the more interesting market. Buffalo are -1.5 at a juicy +220 (Bally Bet), meaning the books expect the Sabres to win but do not necessarily expect them to dominate. Montréal cover at +1.5 is priced at -263 (FanDuel) - a very short price that reflects just how likely a one-goal outcome or Canadiens win is considered to be.
On the totals front, oddsmakers have set the line at 5.5 goals. The under is priced at -118 (BetMGM) while the over comes in at +104 (Bally Bet). The slight lean toward the under in the pricing suggests bookmakers expect a tighter defensive game, though the over at +104 represents genuine value - you are getting plus money on what is essentially a coin-flip total.
Note on form: Recent form data for the Buffalo Sabres is unavailable at time of writing. Bettors should check the latest injury and lineup news before placing wagers. The odds themselves, however, tell a clear story about how the market views this matchup.
Value Spot: Over 5.5 at +104
Any time you can get plus money on a standard 5.5-goal total in the National Hockey League, it deserves serious attention. The over 5.5 at +104 (Bally Bet) implies roughly a 49% probability - meaning the market is almost perfectly split, but you are being paid a small premium for backing the over. In a game where both teams have motivation and nothing separates them on the moneyline, goals are not out of the question. This is a strong standalone play and an excellent parlay leg.
Value Spot: Buffalo Sabres -1.5 at +220
The Sabres puck-line at +220 (Bally Bet) is an interesting speculative leg. Implied probability sits around 31%, which is fair given the closeness of the moneyline. But if Buffalo do win, they are a team that can run up a score at home. Pairing this with the over creates a natural correlation - a dominant Sabres win almost always means goals. This correlation is worth exploiting.
Recommended Parlay Combinations
Parlay 1 - Main Value Play: Over 5.5 + Buffalo Sabres ML
With the moneyline so close, taking Buffalo at -111 (FanDuel) paired with the Over 5.5 at +104 (Bally Bet) gives a natural combination. A high-scoring game favours the home side in terms of morale and crowd involvement, and you are getting near-even money on both legs. Combined odds land around +192.
- Buffalo Sabres ML: -111 (FanDuel)
- Over 5.5 Goals: +104 (Bally Bet)
- Combined Parlay Odds: +192
Parlay 2 - Speculative Big-Price Play: Buffalo -1.5 + Over 5.5
For bettors looking for a higher-upside ticket, combining the Buffalo Sabres -1.5 at +220 (Bally Bet) with the Over 5.5 at +104 (Bally Bet) creates a correlated two-legger that pays well. If Buffalo win by two or more, the game likely went through at least 5 goals given the offensive tempo required for that margin. Combined odds around +556 make this a strong speculative play for a small unit.
- Buffalo Sabres -1.5: +220 (Bally Bet)
- Over 5.5 Goals: +104 (Bally Bet)
- Combined Parlay Odds: +556
Best Standalone Bet
If parlays are not your thing tonight, the Over 5.5 at +104 (Bally Bet) is the cleanest single-game value play on the board. Plus money on a 5.5-goal total in a game where neither team is expected to dominate defensively is exactly the kind of edge sharp bettors look for.
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