Free NHL Picks Today: Buffalo Sabres vs Edmonton Oilers 3/6/23

Two of the NHL’s top offenses are set to square off at KeyBank Center on Monday, as the Buffalo Sabres (32-25-4) play host to the Edmonton Oilers (34-22-8). Edmonton is coming off a high-scoring 7-5 loss against the Jets on Saturday.

The Oilers committed four penalties in the game, conceding one power play goal. Leon Draisaitl led the Oilers with a hat trick. Jack Campbell saved only 32 of 38 shots against (.842%) in the loss.

Buffalo beat the Lightning 5-3 on Saturday. Five players found the net for the Sabres. Jeff Skinner and Tage Thompson both scored and provided an assist to lead the team in scoring. Eric Comrie had 33 saves.

HEAD TO HEAD

The Sabres won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 4-2 victory in October. Four players were on the scoresheet for Buffalo. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Darnell Nurse were on the scoresheet for Edmonton. Comrie got the win, saving 46 of 48 shots (.958%).

FACING OFF

Edmonton is averaging 3.88 goals per game for the season, best in the NHL, and they are taking on a Sabres team that is allowing 3.56 goals a game (25th).

Meanwhile, Buffalo has found the net 3.74 times a game on average, third in the league, and the Oilers are allowing opponents to score 3.31 goals per game (21st).

The Oilers’ 32.30% power play percentage is the best in the league, while Buffalo’s 25.12% conversion rate ranks fourth. While efficient on the power play, Buffalo has been poor at penalty killing, as the home team possesses the league’s second-lowest PK% at 72.47%. Edmonton’s 75.66% ranks 24th in the NHL.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 122 points this season, most in the NHL, Connor McDavid is the top skater for the Oilers. He leads the league in both goals (52) and assists (70). In the net, Stuart Skinner (17-13-4) is Edmonton’s top goaltender by goals against average.

He has a 2.88 GAA and a .912% save percentage. Thompson leads the Sabres in scoring with 82 points (5th in the league). He has 42 goals (3rd in the league) and 40 assists. Craig Anderson (9-8-2) has the best goals against average for Buffalo at 2.77.

He has a save percentage of .918%. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (15-9-2) has played the most games in net for the Sabres this season. He has a 3.63 GAA and a .891% save percentage.