Free NHL Picks Today: Toronto Maple Leafs vs Buffalo Sabres 3/13/23

Free NHL Picks Today: Toronto Maple Leafs vs Buffalo Sabres 3/13/23
Mon 13th March 2023

The Buffalo Sabres (32-28-5), one of the league’s worst penalty killing teams, are on the road to face the Toronto Maple Leafs (40-17-8) and their clutch power play offense at Scotiabank Arena on Monday. Buffalo is coming off a 2-1 overtime loss against the Rangers on Saturday, their fourth consecutive defeat.

The Sabres conceded a power play goal while failing to take advantage of their own limited power play opportunities. Jeff Skinner was the only player to find the net for the Sabres. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen had 24 saves in the loss.

Toronto beat the Oilers 7-4 on Saturday. John Tavares and Noel Acciari both scored twice for the Maple Leafs. Matt Murray surrendered four goals on 26 shots (.846%).

HEAD TO HEAD

The Maple Leafs have won both games between the teams this season, including a 6-3 victory in their most recent meeting in February. Mitchell Marner led Toronto with five points (0G 5A). Alex Tuch led Buffalo with two points (1G 1A). Ilya Samsonov got the win, saving 29 of 32 shots (.906%).

FACING OFF

Buffalo is averaging 3.65 goals per game for the season, third in the NHL, and they are taking on a Maple Leafs team that is allowing 2.68 goals a game (6th). Meanwhile, Toronto has found the net 3.43 times a game on average, seventh in the league, and the Sabres are allowing opponents to score 3.62 goals per game (27th).

The Maple Leafs’ 25.76% power play percentage is the third-best in the league, while Buffalo’s 24.65% conversion rate ranks fourth. While strong on the power play, Buffalo has been less successful at penalty killing, as the away team owns the league’s second-lowest PK% at 72.73%. Toronto’s 81.44% ranks 12th in the NHL.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 86 points this season, fifth-most in the NHL, Tage Thompson is the top skater for the Sabres. He is among the league leaders with 42 goals (3rd) and has added 44 assists. In the net, Craig Anderson (9-9-2) is Buffalo’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.78 GAA and a .918% save percentage.

Luukkonen (15-10-2) leads the Sabres in games played in goal. He has a GAA of 3.61 and a save percentage of .893%. Marner and William Nylander lead the Maple Leafs in scoring with 83 and 78 points, respectively. Marner ranks 10th in the league in points scored on the season.

He has 24 goals and 59 assists (4th) in 65 games, while Nylander has 34 goals and 44 assists. Samsonov (23-8-2) has the best goals against average for Toronto at 2.41. He has a save percentage of .915%.

HOME AND AWAY

Buffalo is 19-10-2 away from KeyBank Center this season. Toronto is 24-6-4 at home this season.

SportsTips’ NHL Pick:

Toronto Maple Leafs (-250)

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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.

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