In their final head-to-head matchup of the regular season, the Buffalo Sabres and the Edmonton Oilers take the ice at Rogers Place in a cross-continent showdown. The match will get started at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 23, and you’ll be able to see it live on Sportsnet West.
Buffalo Sabres at Edmonton Oilers Odds
Edmonton is 21-26 straight up (SU) and has lost 10.3 units for moneyline bettors thus far. That early-season winning percentage is a regression from the 47-35 record that the team managed during last year’s regular season campaign. 24 of the team’s 47 outings have gone under the total, while 22 have gone over and just one has pushed. The team is 10-13 SU at home this season.
The Oilers have converted on just 15.1 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that puts them in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 32nd overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 72.7 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, the Oilers have been whistled for penalties 3.8 times per game overall this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five outings at home. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 7.8 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, overall.
Sporting a .902 save percentage and 26.0 saves per game, Cam Talbot (18-19-2) has been the primary option in goal for the Oilers this season. If the Oilers choose to give him a rest, however, head coach Todd Mclellan could turn to Laurent Brossoit (3-10-10 record, .886 save percentage, 3.22 goals against average).
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will each be focal points for the Oilers. McDavid (53 points) is up to 15 goals and 38 assists and has recorded multiple points on 14 different occasions this year. Draisaitl has 12 goals and 27 assists to his name and has recorded a point in 25 contests.
On the other side of the rink, Buffalo is 12-35 straight up (SU) and has lost 23.2 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 47 regular season outings, 23 of its games have gone under the total, while 20 have gone over and just three have pushed. As the visiting team, the Sabres are 6-20 SU so far.
The Sabres have converted on just 14.0 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that places them in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 26th overall and it’s successfully defended 78.0 percent of all penalties.
Buffalo’s players have been penalized 3.6 times per game in total this season, 3.6 per game over their last five match ups total, and 4.0 per game over their last five games as the visiting team. The team has been forced to kill penalties 12.4 minutes per contest over their last five road games.
Robin Lehner (26.3 saves per game) has been the main option in goal for Buffalo. Lehner has nine wins, 26 losses, and six OT losses to his credit, and has registered a .907 save percentage and 3.06 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Sabres will be Jack Eichel, who’s got 19 goals and 26 assists this year.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Edmonton Oilers Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Oilers, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
Over Edmonton’s last ten outings, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 2-4 in those games).
The Sabres are 3-12 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 9-25 when they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 minutes, total.
The under has hit in three of Edmonton’s last five outings.
Edmonton has averaged 2.8 goals per game overall this year, but is averaging 4.0 per contest over its three-game win streak.
Edmonton skaters have averaged 16.6 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 12.0 giveaways per game (ranked 28th).
Buffalo skaters have averaged 8.8 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 7.1 giveaways per game (ranked sixth).
This game features a couple of the more aggressive teams in the league. Buffalo skaters have dished out the league’s 10th-most hits per game (22.9) and the Oilers have registered the most (26.6).
