Buffalo Sabres favored to win Game 1 against Montreal Canadiens

9 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 6

Buffalo enter the second-round opener after a six-game series win over Boston, while Montreal needed seven games and four overtimes to eliminate Tampa Bay.
The report points to Buffalo's stronger rest, home edge and recent goaltending switch, with Alex Lyon allowing five goals in five games after replacing Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
Montreal's road record and Jakub Dobes' improved playoff save percentage offer resistance, but Buffalo's 50-23-9 regular season and 20 first-round goals underpin expectations of an opening win.

Will Dobes' regular-season mastery over Buffalo defy predictions of a fatigue-driven loss?

Is Montreal battle-hardened or just exhausted after their grueling seven-game series?

Can Alex Lyon's historic goaltending mask the Sabres' powerless power play?