Considered by many to be the two weakest clubs in the NHL, the Ottawa Senators and the Buffalo Sabres take the ice at the KeyBank Center for an Atlantic Division matchup. MSG Western New York will showcase the matchup, and the puck drops at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 12.
Ottawa Senators vs. Buffalo Sabres Odds
Each side currently has an identical -110 moneyline in this one, and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -125 under, +105 over.
Ottawa is 9-19 straight up (SU) and has lost 13.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. 15 of its matches have gone over the total, while 13 have gone under and none have pushed. This 2017-18 Senators team is 5-9 SU on the road.
Ottawa has converted on just 16.0 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that places them in the bottom-5 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 26th in the league, and the team’s successfully killed off only 77.1 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Sens have been whistled for penalties just 3.7 times per game overall during the 2017-18 season, and 4.4 per game over its last five road outings. The team has had to kill penalties 8.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Boasting a .895 save percentage and 24.5 saves per game, Craig Anderson (8-14-3) has been the top option in goal for Ottawa this season. If it chooses to rest him, however, Ottawa might turn to Mike Condon (3-7-4 record, .902 save percentage, 3.29 goals against average).
The visiting Senators have relied on Mark Stone and Mike Hoffman this season. Stone has 25 points on 14 goals and 11 assists, and has recorded two or more points in eight different games. Hoffman has nine goals and 12 assists to his name (and has logged at least one point in 16 games).
On the other side of the ice, Buffalo is 7-23 straight up (SU) and has lost 16.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. 16 of its matches have gone under the total, while 11 have gone over and just three have pushed. This year, the team is 3-10 SU as the home team.
The Sabres have converted on just 12.5 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that’s ranked 30th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 16th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.9 percent of all opponent power plays.
Buffalo players have been penalized 3.7 times per game in total this season, and 2.6 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties 8.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Robin Lehner has denied 26.5 shots per game as the top option in goal for the Sabres. Lehner has six wins, 17 losses, and four OT losses to his credit and has recorded a .910 save percentage and 2.91 goals against average this year.
The Sabres offense will be led by Evander Kane (13 goals, 14 assists).
Ottawa Senators vs. Buffalo Sabres Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Sabres, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Ottawa (1-4 in shootouts) has more shootout experience coming into this one. Buffalo emerged victorious in its only shootout this season.
The under has hit in three of Buffalo’s last five outings.
Over Ottawa’s last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 0-6 in those games).
This game features two of the more aggressive teams in the league. Ottawa skaters have accounted for the 10th-most hits in the league (22.6 per game) and the Sabres have registered the ninth-most (23.4).
