The Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres meet Saturday in NHL action at the KeyBank Center. Here’s a Sabres vs. Maple Leafs Prediction. This article will include a Sabres vs. Maple Leafs pick.
Toronto Maple Leafs Betting Preview
The Toronto Maple Leafs lost to the Habs, beat the Ducks, and play the Wild next. The Maple Leafs have lost 8 of their last 9 games.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are averaging 3.15 goals per game and are scoring 20.1 percent of their power-play opportunities. Auston Matthews leads Toronto with 27 goals, William Nylander has 39 assists, and John Tavares has 161 shots on goal. Defensively, the Toronto Maple Leafs are allowing 3.48 goals per game and are killing 83.5 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Joseph Woll has allowed 88 goals on 912 shots faced, while Dennis Hildeby has given up 46 goals on 511 shots.
Buffalo Sabres Betting Preview
The Buffalo Sabres beat the Sharks and lost to the Capitals, and they play the Golden Knights next. The Sabres have won 8 of their last 9 games.
The Buffalo Sabres are averaging 3.47 goals per game and are scoring 20.6 percent of their power play opportunities. Tage Thompson leads Buffalo with 34 goals, Rasmus Dahlin has 47 assists, and Alex Tuch has 155 shots on goal. Defensively, the Buffalo Sabres are allowing 3 goals per game and are killing 82.7 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Alex Lyon has given up 77 goals on 881 shots faced, and Colten Ellis has allowed 38 goals on 367 shots.
Why the Buffalo Sabres will win
- The Maple Leafs have lost each of their last 10 games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Sabres have won eight of their last nine games.
- The Maple Leafs have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last seven games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The Sabres have covered the puck line in each of their last six games following a home loss.
- The Sabres have won the second period in each of their last six games as home favorites against Atlantic Division opponents when trailing after the first period.
Why the Toronto Maple Leafs will win
- The Sabres have lost four of their last five games as home favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Maple Leafs have won seven of their last eight night games at KeyBank Center following a win.
- The Maple Leafs have covered the puck line in 10 of their last 11 games as underdogs against the Sabres.
- The Sabres have failed to cover the puck line in five of their last six games as home favorites.
- The Sabres have lost the third period in seven of their last eight games as home favorites when trailing after the second period.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the Maple Leafs’ last nine Saturday games as underdogs have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Nine of the Sabres’ last 10 games as favorites following a home loss have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Each of the last five games between teams from the same division has gone UNDER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Maple Leafs’ last eight games.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in each of the Sabres’ last seven games against Atlantic Division opponents.
Buffalo Sabres Player Prop Facts
- Alex Tuch has scored at least one goal in each of his last four appearances against Eastern Conference opponents.
- Tage Thompson has recorded at least one assist in each of the Sabres’ last six home games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- Rasmus Dahlin has scored three goals against the Maple Leafs this season—the most against any opponent.
Toronto Maple Leafs Player Prop Facts
- Matias Maccelli has scored the first goal in four of the Maple Leafs’ last five games.
- Morgan Rielly has recorded an assist in five of his last six appearances at KeyBank Center.
- Auston Matthews has scored a goal in each of the Maple Leafs’ last five road games against the Sabres.
- Oliver Ekman-Larsson has recorded three assists against the Sabres this season—the most against any opponent.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Buffalo Sabres rank 4th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (82.68%).
- The Buffalo Sabres rank 5th in the league for goals per game this season (3.47).
- The Toronto Maple Leafs rank 30th in the league for goals against per game this season (3.48).
- The Toronto Maple Leafs rank 3rd in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (83.53%).
Sabres vs Maple Leafs Prediction
These are two teams heading in different directions. The Sabres are rolling and looking to make a deep playoff run. The Maple Leafs are out of playoff contention and have now lost Auston Matthews for the rest of the season. There’s no reason why the Sabres shouldn’t have a field day in this spot, similar to how they did back in January when they lit up Toronto for 7 goals. The Sabres need to take advantage of these games if they’re going to snag the top seed in the East. Give me the Sabres and the PL of max betting value.