The Ottawa Senators and the Buffalo Sabres meet to get their new season going on Thursday at KeyBank Center. The Senators won two of the three games between the teams last season, including a 3-1 victory in their final meeting in February. Nick Holden led Ottawa with two points (0G 2A). Anton Forsberg got the win, saving 23 of 24 shots (.958%).
FACING OFF
Ottawa averaged 2.73 goals per game last season, 26th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Sabres team that allowed 3.50 goals a game (25th). Meanwhile, Buffalo found the net 2.79 times a game on average, 22nd in the league, and the Senators allowed opponents to score 3.22 goals per game (22nd).The Senators converted 19.34% of their power play opportunities (20th), while Buffalo’s 76.42% penalty kill percentage ranked 23rd. The Sabres scored on 21.17% of their power play chances (16th). Ottawa’s PK% of 80.32 ranked No. 13.
LAST SEASON’S TOP PERFORMERS:
With 67 points last season, Brady Tkachuk was the top skater for the Senators. He had 30 goals and 37 assists in 79 games. Forsberg (22-17-4) is Ottawa’s top returning goaltender. He had a 2.82 GAA and a .917% save percentage. Tage Thompson led the Sabres in scoring a season ago with 68 points. He played 78 games, scoring 38 goals and providing 30 assists. Craig Anderson (17-12-2) had the best goals against average for Buffalo at 3.12. He had a save percentage of .897%.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Buffalo Sabres (+100)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
