Canadian Tire Centre plays host to a divisional matchup as the Buffalo Sabres take on the Ottawa Senators. Reseau Des Sports will air the game, which gets underway at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 1.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Ottawa Senators Odds
Buffalo (-130) is currently the favorite over Ottawa (+110) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-110 for the over, -110 for the under).
Buffalo is 6-6 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 1.4 units this season. Seven of its contests have gone over the total, while five have gone under and none have pushed. This 2018-19 Sabres team is 3-3 SU on the road.
The Sabres have scored on 20.0 percent of their power play opportunities so far. That mark hasn’t moved a lot from last season, when they were ranked 20th in the NHL by scoring on 19.1 percent of their extra-man chances. Their penalty kill has gotten stronger year-over-year, as they’ve gone from successfully defending 77.9 percent of all opponent power plays (ranked 22nd overall last season) to 78.9 percent this year.
The Sabres, as a collective unit, have been penalized 3.9 times per game during the 2018-19 season, a number that is up a bit from the 3.4 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 8.2 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team’s been forced to kill penalties for 9.2 minutes per outing this season.
Averaging 29.3 saves per game with a .910 save percentage, Carter Hutton (4-5-1) has been the best option in goal for Buffalo this year. If Buffalo decides to rest him, however, head coach Phil Housley could roll with Linus Ullmark (2-1-1 record, .935 save percentage, 2.00 goals against average).
The visiting Sabres have relied on Jeff Skinner and Jack Eichel heavily this season. Skinner (12 points) is up to six goals and six assists, and has recorded multiple points four times. Eichel has four goals and eight assists to his nameand has registered at least one point in six games.
Over on the other bench, Ottawa is 4-7 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. Eight of its contests have gone over the total, while two have gone under and just one has pushed. It’s 3-3 SU at home this year.
The Senators have converted on just 22.9 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 29th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 68.4 percent of all penalties.
Ottawa players have been whistled for penalties 4.3 times per game this season, a number that’s risen some from the 3.5 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 8.1 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has been forced to kill penalties for 10.3 minutes per contest this year.
Craig Anderson has stopped 33.8 shots per game as the top netminder in goal for the Senators. Anderson has four wins, six losses, and two OT losses to his name and has maintained a pedestrian 3.47 goals against average and a fairly-weak .909 save percentage this season.
The home team offense will be led by Thomas Chabot (three goals, 10 assists).
Buffalo Sabres vs. Ottawa Senators Betting Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Senators, O/U – Over
