The Ottawa Senators (-165) play host to the Buffalo Sabres (+140), who will be out to snap their losing streak, at Canadian Tire Centre on Wednesday. The total is 6.5 (O: -125, U: +105)Buffalo (7-9-0) is embarking on a four-game road trip with the second of a back-to-back after suffering a high-scoring 5-4 loss against the Canucks yesterday, their sixth consecutive defeat.
The Sabres conceded two power play goals while failing to take advantage of their own power play opportunities. Jeff Skinner led the Sabres with two goals. Alex Tuch had a goal and two assists to lead the team in scoring. Craig Anderson only had 27 saves on 32 shots against (.843%) in the loss.
Ottawa (5-9-1) fell 4-2 to the Islanders on Monday. Claude Giroux and Drake Batherson both scored once for the Senators. Giroux added an assist to share the scoring lead with Tim Stuetzle, who had two assists. Cam Talbot saved 31 of 34 shots in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Sabres won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 4-1 victory in October. Victor Olofsson led Buffalo with two goals. Brady Tkachuk scored Ottawa’s only goal. Anderson got the win, saving 35 of 36 shots (.972%).
FACING OFF
Buffalo is averaging 3.69 goals per game for the season, fourth in the NHL, and they are taking on a Senators team that is allowing 3.53 goals a game (24th). Meanwhile, Ottawa has found the net 3.40 times a game on average, 10th in the league, and the Sabres are allowing opponents to score 3.56 goals per game (25th).
Expect several power play opportunities for the Sabres, as the Senators have been penalized 5.27 times a game, second-most in the NHL, for an average of 12.73 minutes (fifth-highest). The visitors are averaging 3.62 penalties (6th-fewest in the league) and 7.38 penalty minutes a game (4th-fewest).
The Sabres’ 23.73% power play percentage ranks ninth in the league, while the Senators are 11th with a conversion rate of 23.21%. While strong on the power play, Buffalo has been poor at penalty killing, as the away team owns the league’s fourth-lowest PK% at 71.43%. Ottawa’s 78.57% ranks 17th in the NHL.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 21 points this season, Tage Thompson is the top skater for the Sabres. He is among the league leaders with 11 goals (4th) and has added 10 assists. In the net, Anderson (3-2-0) is Buffalo’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.40 GAA and a .922% save percentage.
Eric Comrie (4-6-0) leads the Sabres in games played in goal. He has a GAA of 3.62 and a save percentage of .885%. Tkachuk leads the Senators in scoring with 20 points (10th in the league). He has six goals and 14 assists (10th) in 15 games.
Talbot (1-3-0) has the best goals against average for Ottawa at 2.51. He has a save percentage of .921%. Anton Forsberg (3-6-1) has played the most games in net for the Senators this season. He has a 3.60 GAA and a .899% save percentage.
HOME AND AWAY
Buffalo is looking to avoid a fourth successive road loss this season. Ottawa is 4-5-0 at home this season. Meanwhile, the Sabres are 0-1 without a day off and 0-1 playing with a rest disadvantage. The Senators are 1-0 with a rest advantage.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Buffalo Sabres (+140)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
