Air Canada Centre will be hosting a divisional matchup as the Toronto Maple Leafs face off against the visiting Buffalo Sabres. It’s the fourth and last time that these two clubs will meet in the regular season. MSG Western New York will broadcast the game, which gets going at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, April 2.
Buffalo Sabres at Toronto Maple Leafs Odds
Buffalo (+250) is playing the role of underdog to Toronto (-300), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).
Netting moneyline bettors 5.5 units, Toronto is 47-32 straight up (SU) overall thus far. That winning percentage, the third-best in the Atlantic Division so far in this young season, is a welcome improvement compared to what the team managed during last year’s regular season (40-42). Among its 79 games this season, 41 have gone over the total, while 34 have gone under and just four have pushed. The team’s 27-12 SU at home this year.
The Maple Leafs currently have the third-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as they’ve found the net on 23.7 percent of their extra-man advantages this year. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 12th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 81.8 percent of all penalties.
The Maple Leafs, as a collective unit, have been penalized just 3.2 times per game overall this season, and 1.8 per game over their last five contests home outings. The team has had to kill penalties for just 6.4 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, in total.
Averaging 30.6 saves per game with a .917 save percentage, Frederik Andersen (39 wins, 25 losses, and five OT losses) has been the primary goalkeeper for the Leafs this season. If the Leafs choose to give him a breather, however, Toronto could turn to Curtis McElhinney (10-7-7 record, .933 save percentage, 2.15 goals against average).
Mitchell Marner and Auston Matthews will both spearhead the attack 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 name and has notched at least one point in 38 contests.
Buffalo is 25-53 straight up (SU) and has lost 15.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. Through 78 regular season matches, 38 of its games have gone under the total, while 35 have gone over and just five have pushed. The Sabres are 14-24 SU as the road team this season.
The Sabres have converted on 18.3 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 23rd overall and it’s successfully killed off 78.2 percent of all penalties.
Buffalo’s players have been penalized 3.5 times per game this season, and 4.2 per game over their last five on the road. The team’s had to kill penalties just 6.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Robin Lehner (.908 save percentage and 3.01 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Buffalo. Lehner is averaging 26.7 saves per game and has 14 wins, 39 losses, and nine OT losses to his credit.
Jack Eichel (25 goals, 37 assists) will lead the attack for the visiting Sabres.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner – Maple Leafs, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- 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 outings.
- Toronto’s attempted 32.2 shots per game overall this season (ranked 17th in the NHL), and 36.6 in their last five home games.
- Eight of Buffalo’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 2-6 in those games.
