The Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens are set to reignite a classic playoff rivalry on Wednesday night, as Game 1 of their second-round Stanley Cup Playoffs series drops the puck at KeyBank Center. After years of rebuilding, the Sabres have finally broken through, earning their first series win since 2007 by dispatching the Boston Bruins in six games. Standing in their way is a resilient Canadiens squad that outlasted the Tampa Bay Lightning in a thrilling seven-game battle where no team won back-to-back contests.

This marks the eighth postseason meeting between these Original Six franchises, with Montreal holding a narrow 4-3 series advantage. During the regular season, the two teams played to a 2-2 split, setting the stage for what promises to be an unpredictable and hard-fought series. The Sabres (50-23-9) will lean on their high-powered offense and home-ice advantage, while the Canadiens (48-24-10) bring playoff-tested grit and momentum from their first-round upset.

As the puck is set to drop at 7 p.m. ET, oddsmakers have installed Buffalo as a -136 favorite on the money line. The total goals line sits at 5.5, suggesting a tight-checking, defensive affair. But with both teams capable of explosive scoring, bettors will be watching closely to see if the pace picks up.

For those looking to get in on the action, the SportsLine Projection Model has been on fire this postseason. After simulating every NHL game 10,000 times, the model entered the second round with a +668 return on top-rated money-line picks. Its latest simulation of Canadiens vs. Sabres has revealed a strong lean, and early trends suggest the under might be worth a look given the playoff intensity both teams displayed in Round 1.

Whether you're a die-hard fan or just looking to add some excitement to your hockey wardrobe, this series is shaping up to be a classic. Get your Sabres or Canadiens gear ready—Game 1 is here, and the road to the Stanley Cup runs through Buffalo.