Morning Coffee: Habs, Sabres series considered too close to call at FanDuel

The Colorado Avalanche just reminded the hockey world why they’ve been the class of the NHL this season.

Trailing the Minnesota Wild 3-0 after 20 minutes in a potential series-clinching Game 5 on home ice, Colorado could be found at +400 to win outright at FanDuel.

Then down 3-1 with less than five minutes to go in the third period, the Avalanche had longer odds to win the game they have to win the Stanley Cup.

Most teams wouldn’t be able to overcome that kind of deficit in the final minutes of a postseason game against one of the NHL’s best teams.

However, Jack Drury cut the deficit to one with 3:33 left in regulation, then Nathan MacKinnon extended his goal streak to six games in a row with a rip top corner that tied it at 3-3 with 1:23 left on the clock.

The stage was set for a most unlikely overtime hero.

Brett Kulak scored the series-clinching OT winner 3:52 into the extra frame, becoming the 16th different player to score a goal for Colorado in the series.

Kulak’s heroics mean he’ll get to stay home and celebrate his daughter’s birthday this weekend instead of having to fly back to Minnesota for a Game 6.

Dad energy.

After that, the Avalanche are headed to the Western Conference Finals after capturing their first series-clinching win on home ice since they beat the Wild all the way back in 2008.

Tonight, the Vegas Golden Knights could advance to face Colorado with a win in Game 6 of their second round series against the Anaheim Ducks.

The Golden Knights, which are 8-1 to advance all-time when they lead 3-2 in a best-of-seven series, are -110 to win tonight and -450 to advance at FanDuel.

The Ducks are -110 to force Game 7 and +340 to advance.

First up, the Montreal Canadiens visit the Buffalo Sabres.

With the series tied 2-2, FanDuel has made that series a coin toss with both sides at -110 to advance to face the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Which side has the edge heading into a crucial Game 5?

Let’s set the stage for and lock in a FanDuel Best Bet for tonight in this Morning Coffee column for Thursday May 14th, 2026.

Habs, Sabres Series Considered Too Close To Call At FanDuel

The Canadiens have defied the odds all season to climb within two wins of the Eastern Conference Finals.

As was the case in their first round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal was a couple of bad bounces away from taking a 3-1 series lead before ultimately falling short in Game 4.

In Round 1, the Canadiens responded with a 3-1 win in Tampa Bay in Game 5.

Tonight, we’ll see if they can bounce back again and push the Sabres to the brink before heading back home for Game 6 at the Bell Centre on Saturday night.

The Habs still haven’t lost back-to-back games in these Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Eight of their 11 games have been decided by one goal, including four of their five losses.

Now a best-of-three, FanDuel has made the series a pick’em with Montreal and Buffalo both at -110 to advance.

The Sabres have the slight edge to win Game 5 on home ice at -120 on the moneyline.

Meanwhile, after over 5.5 cashed in each of the first three games of the series, we finally got an under in Game 4.

Will we see another tight-checking, low-scoring game tonight in Buffalo?

The Sabres powerplay finally clicked in Game 4, with powerplay goals in the third period and overtime to complete the 3-2 comeback win.

The Habs went 1-for-7 on the powerplay.

Considering how slim the margin for error has been, special teams could be the difference again tonight.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has allowed two or more goals in all three of his starts, but he looked solid late in Buffalo’s Game 4 win.

Jakub Dobes ranks third among NHL goaltenders in Goals Saved Above Expected this postseason, but he’s also allowed two or more goals in three of four games in this series, even if that does include an awful beat on a terrible bounce in Game 4.

If you’ve been tailing me throughout this series, then you’ll be familiar with some of the bets on my card for Game 5 tonight.

For a FanDuel Best Bet, I’ll play a builder Same Game Parlay with Alex Newhook 2+ shots on goal and Alex Tuch 2+ shots on goal at +125 odds.

Newhook has scored five goals and registered 13 shots on goal in his last three games.

He’s cleared 4+ shots on goal in all four games in this series.

Meanwhile, Tuch has been held without a point in this series, but it hasn’t been for a lack of trying, as he’s registered 14 shots on goal in his last three games.

Tuch has cleared 4+ shots on goal in each of the last three and has reached 2+ shots on goal in nine of 10 this postseason.

My FanDuel Best Bet is a builder SGP with Newhook 2+ shots on goal and Tuch 2+ shots on goal at +125.

Meanwhile, I’ll also run it back with Newhook 3+ shots on goal at +225, Newhook 4+ shots on goal at +600, and Newhook to record 1+ point at +142.

In case you missed it, Newhook has been very good to me these last two games, so I’m willing to roll the dice on him again in Game 5.

I’ll also add Tuch 3+ shots on goal at +104 to my card.

Next up, I’ll run it back with Josh Doan 1+ point at -106.

Doan has thrived in this series with a goal and five assists in four games, including a pair of assists in Game 4.

His production has led to a promotion to the top powerplay, where he assisted on the game-winning goal on Tuesday night.

While we’re no longer getting this prop at plus money, I’m willing to bet Doan 1+ point at -106.

Finally, I’ll add Ivan Demidov 1+ point at -113 to my card.

Demidov is still looking for his first postseason goal, but he’s registered an assist in back-to-back games and three of four in this series.

The line of Newhook, Demidov, and Jake Evans led Montreal in on-ice expected goals for again in Game 4, with Demidov and Evans both picking up an assist on Newhook’s goal.

While Demidov has been held to four assists in 11 games this postseason, he leads the entire NHL with an 11.8 On-Ice Expected Goals Differential and leads Montreal with a plus-10 actual On-Ice Goal Differential.

Hopefully, he can register at least a point in Game 5.

As always, make sure to follow me @Domenic_Padula on X for my full card for both games.

Have a great day, everyone!