Two clubs that are facing each other for the fourth and final time this year, the Buffalo Sabres and the Toronto Maple Leafs clash at Air Canada Centre for a divisional showdown. The opening face-off takes place at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, April 2, and it can be viewed live on MSG Western New York.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Odds
Toronto enters the matchup as the substantial favorite with a -300 moneyline. The line for Buffalo sits at +250, and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -105 for the over and -115 for the under.
The Maple Leafs are 47-32 straight up (SU) and have netted 5.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. That winning percentage, the third-best in the Atlantic Division in this young season, is a welcome improvement over the 40-42 record from last year’s regular season campaign. Through 79 regular season outings, 41 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while 34 have gone under and just four have pushed. The team is 27-12 SU at home this year.
Toronto currently has the third-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as the team has found the net on 23.7 percent of their extra-man opportunities this year. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 12th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.8 percent of all penalties.
Toronto, as a collective unit, has been penalized just 3.2 times per game overall this season, and 1.8 per game over its last five contests home outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties for just 6.4 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, in total.
Boasting a .917 save percentage and 30.6 saves per game, Frederik Andersen (39-25-5) has been the best goalkeeper for the Maple Leafs this season. If they, however, decide to rest him, head coach Mike Babcock may turn to Curtis McElhinney (10-7-7 record, .933 save percentage, 2.15 goals against average).
Mitchell Marner and Auston Matthews will both be focal points for the Maple Leafs. Marner (69 points) has tallied 22 goals and 47 assists and has recorded multiple points on 18 separate occasions this year. Matthews has 31 goals and 26 assists to his credit and has recorded at least one point in 38 contests.
Over on the other bench, Buffalo is 25-53 straight up (SU) and has lost 15.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 78 regular season matches, 38 of its games have gone under the total, while 35 have gone over and just five have pushed. As the away team, Buffalo is 14-24 SU.
Buffalo has converted on 18.3 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 23rd overall and it’s successfully defended 78.2 percent of all opponent power plays.
Buffalo’s players have been penalized 3.5 times per game in total this season, and 4.2 per game over their last five on the road. The team has had to kill penalties just 6.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Robin Lehner (26.7 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Buffalo. Lehner owns a 14-39-9 record, while registering a .908 save percentage and 3.01 goals against average this year.
Jack Eichel (25 goals, 37 assists) will lead the offensive attack for the visiting Sabres.
Buffalo Sabres at Toronto Maple Leafs Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner – Maple Leafs, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Buffalo is 1-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Toronto is 7-2 in shootouts.
The total has gone over in three of Toronto’s last five games.
Toronto’s attempted 32.2 shots per contest overall this season (ranked 17th in the NHL), and 34.5 across their last 10 outings.
Over Buffalo’s last ten games, eight of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 2-6 in those games).
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