Free NHL Picks Today: Philadelphia Flyers vs Buffalo Sabres 4/1/23

The Philadelphia Flyers (+100) play host to the Buffalo Sabres (-120) at Wells Fargo Center on Saturday. The total is 6.5 (O: +100, U: -120)Buffalo (36-31-7) is playing on back-to-back days after earning a 3-2 overtime win over the Rangers yesterday.

The Sabres committed only one penalty in the game, holding New York without a power play goal. Jeff Skinner, JJ Peterka, and Jordan Greenway each scored once for the Sabres. Casey Mittelstadt had two assists to lead the team in scoring. Devon Levi saved an impressive 31 of 33 shots (.939%) in the win.

Philadelphia (29-32-13) fell 5-4 (OT) to the Senators on Thursday. Four players found the net for the Flyers. Tony DeAngelo and Cam York both scored and provided an assist to lead the team in scoring. Felix Sandstrom saved only 41 of 46 shots against (.891%) in the loss.

HEAD TO HEAD

The Flyers have won both games between the teams this season, including a 5-2 victory in their most recent meeting in March. Owen Tippett led Philadelphia with three goals. Victor Olofsson (2G 0A) and Mittelstadt (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Buffalo. Carter Hart got the win, saving 36 of 38 shots (.947%).

FACING OFF

Buffalo is averaging 3.55 goals per game for the season, third in the NHL, and they are taking on a Flyers team that is allowing 3.27 goals a game (20th). Meanwhile, Philadelphia has found the net 2.70 times a game on average, 29th in the league, and the Sabres are allowing opponents to score 3.65 goals per game (26th).

The Flyers will be looking to build on their 30th-ranked power play percentage of 16.26% against the Sabres, who are the league’s third-weakest penalty killing team (72.95%). Buffalo, meanwhile, has scored on 24.08% of their power play opportunities (7th), which the visitors will be aiming to improve on against Philadelphia’s 26th-ranked 74.77% penalty killing rate.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 89 points this season, Tage Thompson is the top skater for the Sabres. He is among the league leaders with 44 goals (6th) and has added 45 assists. In the net, Craig Anderson (10-11-2) is Buffalo’s top goaltender by goals against average.

He has a 3.07 GAA and a .908% save percentage. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (16-11-4) leads the Sabres in games played in goal. He has a GAA of 3.63 and a save percentage of .889%.

Travis Konecny and Kevin Hayes lead the Flyers in scoring with 54 and 53 points, respectively. Konecny has 27 goals and 27 assists, while Hayes has 17 goals and 36 assists. Hart (21-21-10) is the top goalie for Philadelphia with a goals against average of 2.90. He has a save percentage of .909%.

HOME AND AWAY

Buffalo is 21-11-3 away from KeyBank Center this season. Philadelphia has won four in a row at Wells Fargo Center this season. Meanwhile, the Sabres are 4-8 without a day off and 3-5 playing with a rest disadvantage. The Flyers are 5-2 with a rest advantage.