The Montreal Canadiens have been keeping fans on the edge of their seats this postseason, becoming the first team in NHL history to alternate wins and losses over their first nine playoff games. That quirky streak continues Sunday as they host the Buffalo Sabres for Game 3 of their Eastern Conference second-round series at the Bell Centre, looking to take a 2-1 lead.
After dropping the series opener 4-1, the Canadiens bounced back with authority on Friday, cruising to a 5-1 victory. Alex Newhook lit the lamp twice, while center Nick Suzuki extended his goal-scoring streak to three games—making him one of the hottest players on the ice right now. The 26-year-old had been quiet early in the playoffs, going goalless through the first six games of Montreal's first-round series against Tampa Bay. But he broke out in Game 7 with the opening goal in a 2-1 win, then carried that momentum into the Sabres series by scoring on the power play in Game 1.
The Sabres, meanwhile, have been a different beast on the road. They swept all three games at TD Garden in their first-round series against the Bruins, allowing just one goal in each contest. The Canadiens, by contrast, went 1-2 at home against the Lightning in the opening round, with all three games decided by a single goal—including two that went to overtime.
Out west, the Vegas Golden Knights are looking to push the Anaheim Ducks to the brink of elimination in Game 4 of their second-round matchup at the Honda Center. After the teams traded 3-1 victories at T-Mobile Arena, Vegas took control on Friday with a dominant 6-2 win. Mitch Marner stole the show with a natural hat trick and an assist, while Brett Howden and defenseman Shea Theodore each added a goal and an assist.
However, the Golden Knights will be without captain Mark Stone on Sunday due to a lower-body injury that sidelined him for the final two periods of Game 3. That opens the door for Howden, who has scored in five of his last six contests and is now tied with Marner for the team lead with six goals this postseason.
For fans looking to add some extra excitement to Sunday's action, keep an eye on these players who are showing strong value for player prop bets. Whether you're backing Suzuki's hot hand or Howden's recent surge, this playoff slate is shaping up to be a memorable one.