The Edmonton Oilers, led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, are ready to take the ice against Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart, and the Buffalo Sabres at the KeyBank Center in a cross-continent showdown. The opening face-off is at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, March 4, and fans at home will be able to see the game live on Sportsnet ONE.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Buffalo Sabres Odds
Offering a moneyline of -125, Buffalo comes into the game as the favorite. The line for the Oilers is standing at +105 and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals (-115 over, -105 under).
Buffalo is 30-35 straight up (SU) and has recorded -1.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage is a welcomed improvement over the 25-57 record from last year’s regular season campaign. Of its 65 games this season, 36 have gone over the total, while 27 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team’s 19-13 SU at home this season.
The Sabres have converted on 18.9 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated fifth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 82.2 percent of all penalties.
Averaging 27.3 saves per game with a .910 save percentage, Carter Hutton (16 wins, 23 losses, and four OT losses) has been the most dependable goalkeeper for Buffalo this season. If head coach Phil Housley decides to give him the evening off, however, the team could roll with Linus Ullmark (15-15-15 record, .909 save percentage, 3.06 goals against average).
On the visiting bench, Edmonton is 28-37 straight up (SU) and has lost 9.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. A total of 31 of its contests have gone under the total, while 29 have gone over and just five have pushed. The Oilers are 14-20 SU as an away team this season.
The Oilers have converted on 21.7 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 29th overall and it’s successfully killed off 75.4 percent of all penalties.
Mikko Koskinen (2.76 goals against average and .911 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Edmonton. Koskinen is averaging 25.4 saves per game and owns an 18-22-4 record.
Edmonton Oilers at Buffalo Sabres Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner – Sabres, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Over Buffalo’s last ten outings, eight of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 2-6 in those games).
- The Sabres are 11-18 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 23-26 when they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 total minutes.
- Buffalo is 4-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Edmonton is 3-2 in shootouts.
- For both of these teams, the over has hit in each of their past five outings.
- Edmonton is ranked 24th this season with 11.9 giveaways per game. That figure has trended down, however, as the team’s averaged 10.0 giveaways over its last 10 games and 10.0 giveaways over its last five.
- Buffalo has averaged 7.6 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 9.4 giveaways per game (ranked 11th).
- Edmonton skaters have accounted for the fourth-most hits in the league (27.0 per game), but the team’s recorded just 22.0 hits over their last five away games.
