Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Buffalo Sabres Prediction, NHL Odds
Toronto and Buffalo enter Tuesday on opposite three-game slides. The playoff-bound Leafs have won three in a row, capped by a 4-1 decision in Carolina on Sunday. The Sabres, who have the longest playoff drought in NHL history at 14 years, lost their third game in a row, 7-4, in Tampa Bay on Sunday.
Toronto is a -155 favourite to win on the NHL odds, with the total pegged at 6.5.
Maple Leafs vs. Sabres NHL Betting Odds
The Maple Leafs have won four straight games in head-to-head action, including both played this season. The two games played in December were high scoring affairs, with Toronto winning 5-3 at home and 6-3 on the road.
The Leafs come in hot, posting seven wins in their last eight games. That record will be put to the test against a Sabres squad riding a seven-game home winning streak.
Both teams are about even against the spread this season. The edge might go to Buffalo as they are 23-16 ATS at home, while Toronto is 19-21 ATS on the road.
While both teams have played the Under in recent action, the teams generally combine for high scoring games. The Over has hit in seven of the Leafs’ last eight games played in Buffalo and these teams have finished above the number in 10 of the last 15 overall meetings.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto took one step closer to clinching their first ever Atlantic Division title with Sunday’s win. The Leafs will clinch the division on Tuesday if they pick up one point against Buffalo or Tampa Bay loses in any fashion against Florida. Toronto won the all-Canadian North Division in the 2020-21 shortened season, but they haven’t won the Atlantic since the divisions were realigned to their current format in 2013-14. You can expect the full roster to play against the Sabres.
Anthony Stolarz, who is expected to be the Game 1 starter in the playoffs, should get the nod on Tuesday. Stolarz has been lights out on a personal seven-game win streak, posting a 1.56 goals-against average and .941 save percentage in that span. This should be his last start of the regular season and Toronto will likely sit out most of their top players for the regular season finale against Detroit on Thursday.
Buffalo Sabres
For the 14th straight year, Buffalo can only play spoiler at the end of the regular season. If that’s not enough motivation, they can also help head coach Lindy Ruff, who is stuck at 899 career wins. Ruff is looking to become just the fifth coach in NHL history to record 900 victories. Ruff will have to go for win No. 900 without defenceman Owen Power, who suffered what was descried as a “serious injury” against Florida on Saturday. The 22-year-old Power finishes the season with a career-high seven goals and 40 points in 79 games.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will start in net against Toronto. Luukkonen was great on Saturday against the Panthers, turning aside 32 of 34 shots face, albeit in a loss. In a career-high 54 starts this season, Luukkonen is 24-23-5 with two shutouts, a 3.20 GAA and an .886 SV.
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