Two teams that have disappointed this year, the Edmonton Oilers and the Buffalo Sabres clash at the KeyBank Center in an East-West showdown. Sportsnet West will broadcast the matchup, which gets going at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, November 24.
Edmonton Oilers at Buffalo Sabres Odds
Buffalo (+120) is entering this one as the underdog to Edmonton (-140), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals (-120 to bet the under, +100 for the over).
Edmonton is 8-14 straight up (SU) and has lost 10.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. 11 of its contests have gone under the total, while 10 have gone over and just one has pushed. As the road team this season, the Oilers are 4-7 SU.
Edmonton has converted on 20.7 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. Additionally, its penalty kill is ranked 30th in the league, and the teams successfully killed off only 73.3 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, Edmonton has been whistled for penalties 4.5 times per game this season, and 6.2 per game over its last five outings. The teams been forced to defend opponent power plays an unhealthy 13.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Sporting a .901 save percentage and 25.8 saves per game, Cam Talbot (8-12-1) has been the primary option in goal for Edmonton this year. If Edmonton chooses to rest him, however, they might turn to Laurent Brossoit (0-5-1 record, .865 save percentage, 3.62 goals against average).
The visiting Oilers have relied on Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins heavily this season. McDavid (28 points) has tallied 10 goals and 18 assists, and has recorded multiple points six times. Nugent-Hopkins has eight goals and nine assists to his name (and has logged at least one point in 12 games).
Over on the other bench, Buffalo is 5-17 straight up (SU) and has already lost 12.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. 10 of its outings have gone over the total, while another 10 have gone under and just two have pushed. This year, the teams 2-8 SU at home.
Buffalo has converted on just 14.3 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that places it in the bottom overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 13th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.8 percent of all opponent power plays.
Buffalo players have been sent to the penalty box only 3.5 times per game in total this season, and 4.2 per game over their last five games. The teams had to stave off opponent power plays just 7.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Robin Lehner (24.3 saves per game) has been the primary netminder in goal for Buffalo. Lehner has four wins, 12 losses, and two OT losses and has registered a pedestrian 3.08 goals against average and a poor .902 save percentage this year.
The home team offense will be led by Evander Kane (12 goals, nine assists).
Edmonton Oilers vs. Buffalo Sabres Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Sabres, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- The under has hit in three of Buffalo’s last five games.
- The Sabres are 2-6 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 5-12 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.
- Buffalo has averaged 6.0 takeaways per game over its last five home games, a slight drop from its season average of 5.4 takeaways per game (ranked 27th overall).
- Edmonton is ranked eighth overall with 8.5 takeaways per game. That figure has trended down lately, however, as the team has managed 7.8 takeaways over its last 10 games and 6.8 takeaways over its last five.
