Ottawa Senators vs. Buffalo Sabres Prediction, NHL Odds
The struggling Buffalo Sabres look for their first win of the season on Wednesday night when they host the Ottawa Senators.
Buffalo has a chance to get their first point of the campaign, facing the Sens, who are on a two-game skid of their own. Ottawa will also be without its captain, Brady Tkachuk, who is expected to miss a month of action with a hand injury.
The NHL odds have the Senators as -120 road favourites, with the total set at an even six goals. Puck drop at KeyBank Arena is set for 7 p.m. ET.
Senators vs. Sabres NHL Betting Odds
Despite their disastrous start, the Sabres might enter this one with a bit of extra swagger, considering they were a perfect 4-0 in the season series versus Ottawa last year. They have beaten the Sens in five straight meetings and in seven of the past 10. In that 10-game stretch, only three games have hit on the UNDER.
The Sens have given up at least four goals in their three outings, helping them play the OVER 2-1. The offence has dried up since their five-piece in the season opener as well, scoring just three goals in those two games. As a borderline playoff team this season, a good start is essential for Ottawa; they are currently favoured to make the playoffs on our NHL futures board at -150.
Buffalo’s first three games have all hit the UNDER. Scoring just twice in those games definitely does not help their case. They have not been close enough in any of those outings to cover the spread either. After missing the postseason for 14 seasons, the Sabres have long odds to make the postseason this season. They are paying +300 to sneak in, but the Atlantic Division looks to be the toughest one in hockey.
Ottawa Senators
After back-to-back games on the road to open the season, Ottawa had its home opener spoiled on Monday afternoon, in a 4-1 loss to the Nashville Predators. They were trailing 2-0 before Ridley Greig’s power play goal cut the lead in half with just over two minutes to go. The Preds capitalized on the Sens’ empty net twice, bringing the game to its 4-1 final.
To put salt in the wound, Ottawa’s captain, Brady Tkachuk, went hard into the boards in the first period and played limited time before leaving the game. Head coach Travis Green revealed Tkachuk would miss at least a month with the hand injury, and surgery is a possibility.
Shane Pinto has been a bright spot early on, scoring four goals and one assist in the team’s first two games, but was held off the scoresheet on Monday. On the other hand, their reigning point leader, Tim Stutzle, has been off to a slow start with just one secondary assist in the season opener. He will now need to adapt to a new linemate with Tkachuk on the shelf for the foreseeable future.
Buffalo Sabres
Panic is beginning to set in for Sabres fans after a horrible first three games of the year. Clips have gone viral of fans tossing jerseys and wearing bags over their head at home games after opening the season 0-3. The season is far from over, but the fanbase is growing impatient after missing the playoffs for 14 years in a row.
Buffalo has not been playing good enough to win out of the gate and was heavily outplayed on Monday again, tallying 28 shots to Colorado’s 38 in a 3-1 loss. The game was tied after the first thanks to a goal late in the period by Tage Thompson, but the Avs took over after, scoring two in the middle frame.
With Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen out with an injury, off-season addition Alex Lyon has started every game so far for Buffalo. He has been peppered with pucks with his new team, stopping 91 of 99 shots he’s faced. With abysmal offence to back him up, his .919 save percentage has not been good enough to earn a win.
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