Sabres vs. Maple Leafs NHL Odds, Prediction and Picks: Leafs Look to Snap Two-Game Skid vs. Buffalo
The Toronto Maple Leafs look to halt a two-game head-to-head losing streak when they return home to host the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night in NHL betting action at Scotiabank Arena. The Maple Leafs wrapped up a three-game Western road trip with a narrow 5-4 loss in Utah on Tuesday night, and have dropped three of four to the rival Sabres including a lopsided 7-4 loss on home back in January. The Sabres opened a brief three-game Canadian road trip on Tuesday with a 4-3 shootout loss in Montreal, and have surrendered almost four goals per game while losing three of their past four overall.
The Maple Leafs have emerged as slender -120 home favourites on Thursday’s NHL odds. The Sabres lag as +100 underdogs, and the total is listed at 6.5.
Sabres vs. Maple Leafs NHL Betting Odds
The Leafs saw their recent dominance of the Sabres end during the second half of last season, losing two straight after topping Buffalo in six of their previous seven meetings. These clubs have combined to score 7+ goals in five of seven dates, generating payouts for the OVER in each of those contests, with the winning team claiming victory by multi-goal margins five times over that stretch.
Toronto has struggled to find consistency in the early going of the campaign, alternating between wins and losses during a 3-3-1 start. However, the Leafs have picked up at least a point in three of four outings and have yet to fall to defeat by a multi-goal margin. The Buds’ middling start has done little to boost their position on the Stanley Cup odds, where they remain off the pace as a +3000 bet and they remain a -110 bet to miss the playoffs for a second straight season.
The Sabres have yet to build on last season’s 50-win campaign and first-place finish in the Atlantic Division, joining Toronto at 3-3-1 after losing three of their past four while mustering just nine total goals. Buffalo is also winless in two road games to date after ranking second in the NHL last season with 24 away victories.
Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres enters Thursday’s action on the heels of a heartbreaking loss to the Habs, but have collected points in four of their first seven games. Tage Thompson remains the offensive centrepiece of this squad leading the way with a team-high four goals and seven points, but has mustered just two total shots on goal over the past two games. Owen Power has been steady from the blue line, compiling a goal and six assists. Young rearguard Owen Zellweger has also come to life, earning extra playing minutes while scoring twice and adding a helper over the past two games. But injuries remain a concern on Buffalo’s blue line. Captain Rasmus Dahlin missed Tuesday’s game with an upper-body injury and remains questionable for Thursday. Matt Grzelcyk and Conor Timmins are also expected to miss Thursday’s date in Toronto.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Leafs return to Scotiabank Arena after a three-game road trip that featured an impressive 6-3 victory over Colorado. Indeed, the club’s offensive production has been encouraging, but defensive play remains a concern. The Leafs surrendered an early three-goal deficit against Utah before mounting a comeback that ultimately fell short and squandered a three-goal lead in a 4-3 shootout loss in Vegas. On a positive note, Auston Matthews and William Nylander are off to roaring starts. Each of the stars have compiled five goals and seven assists through seven games, with Matthews turning in a pair of four-point performances over the past three games. John Tavares celebrated the recent birth of his son with a two-point night in Utah, and his influence is having an impact on prized rookie Gavin McKenna, who has scored twice and added three assists during his four-game points streak. However, the club has one major injury concern. Chris Tanev left Sunday’s victory over Colorado in the first period with an upper-body injury, and his absence is a blow to a Toronto defence that has struggled to limit scoring opportunities.
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