Keeping things on ice

With a win in tonight’s game, Buffalo would advance to the Eastern Conference Final for the first time since 2007. It would mark the seventh time the Sabres have appeared in the Conference Final/league Semi-final (1975, 1980, 1998, 1999, 2006, 2007).

A win tonight would mark the Sabres’ fourth playoff series victory over the Canadiens in franchise history. Buffalo’s only Game 7 victory came on April 29, 1997 vs. Ottawa (3-2, OT) in the 1997 Eastern Conference Quarterfinal.

In his last seven games, Zach Benson has registered eight points (4+4). Benson is two goals shy of Danny Gare’s record, set in 1975, for goals by a Sabres skater age 21 or younger in a single playoff year (7; 20 years old).

In his last eight games, Rasmus Dahlin has posted 12 points (3+9),

including at least one assist in four straight games. Dahlin needs two points to match the most points registered by a Buffalo defenseman in a single playoff year in franchise history (15; Jason Woolley and Zhitnik in 1999). Woolley and Zhitnik appeared in 21 games in the 1999 playoffs and tonight is Dahlin’s 13th game of the 2026 playoffs.

Tage Thompson has tallied 15 points (5+10) in 12 playoff games thus far, including eight points (3+5) in his last four games. Thompson’s eight points (3+5) in his last four games are the most by a Sabres forward in any four-game span in the playoffs since Derek Roy notched nine points (3+6) from May 2 to 10, 2006.

Konsta Helenius has recorded a goal in two consecutive games and a goal in tonight’s game would make Helenius the youngest skater in franchise history to record a goal streak of three or more games in the playoffs.

Josh Doan has registered 10 points (3+7) in his last nine games, including seven points (2+5) in six games against Montreal in this series.

Jack Quinn has recorded four points (2+2) in his last two games, including a multi-goal effort in Game 6 against the Canadiens (2+1). Quinn joined Thompson as the only Sabres skaters to record a multi-goal game in the 2026 playoffs.

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RBROWNBETS.COM: We've bet under 6.5 goals (and lost) in each of the last two games between Montreal and Buffalo. The teams scored nine goals in Game 5 and 11 in Game 6, now the total has dropped to 5.5. Something doesn't seem right. Yes, the teams could play more conservative because it's a Game 7, but there's also the increased possibility of one or more empty-net goals, since it's win or go home. A 3-1 game can become 5-1 in the blink of an eye. Forced to pick a side we'd take the underdog Canadiens and hope Buffalo's power plays cools off. That unit has a 37-percent success rate through the first six games of the series. This is one of those games it may be best to sit back and enjoy, so no official wager. Best of luck with your bets ...

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