Oilers vs Sabres Prediction NHL Picks 3/9/24
The Edmonton Oilers will play the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. Edmonton has won five of their last six games, while Buffalo is on a three game losing streak. Let’s take a look at the betting matchup and the Oilers vs Sabres prediction.
Oilers Preview
The Edmonton Oilers are 38-21-2 this year after they lost to Columbus by a score of 4-2 in their last game. Edmonton cut the deficit to 3-2 in the third period, but they allowed a late empty net goal in the loss. The Oilers were out shot by a total of 34-31 and went 1-3 on the power play in the game. Edmonton had won their previous five games against Boston, Pittsburgh, Seattle, St. Louis, and LA. The Oilers are scoring 3.51 goals per game and they are allowing 2.90 goals against per game, while going 26.7% on the power play and 79.8% on the penalty kill. Connor McDavid has led Edmonton with 23 goals, 77 assists, and 200 shots on goal. The projected starting goalie for Edmonton is Stuart Skinner, who is 29-13-2 this year with a 2.60 goals against average and a .906 save percentage.
Sabres Preview
The Buffalo Sabres are 29-30-5 this season after they lost to Nashville by a score of 4-2 in their last game. Buffalo tied the game at one in the first period, but they allowed the next three goals in the game for the loss. The Sabres out shot Nashville by a total of 28-24 and went 0-3 on the power play in the game. Buffalo lost to Toronto by a score of 2-1 and Winnipeg by a score of 5-2 in the two games prior to Nashville. The Sabres are scoring 2.89 goals per game and they are allowing 3.00 goals against per game, while going 16.5% on the power play and 78.2% on the penalty kill. Rasmus Dahlin has 15 goals, 32 assists, and 187 shots on goal. The projected starting goalie for Buffalo is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who is 19-16-3 this year with a 2.44 goals against average and a .914 save percentage.
Buffalo Sabres Player Prop Facts
- Jordan Greenway has scored at least one goal in three of the Sabres' last four games against Pacific Division opponents.
- Dylan Cozens has recorded at least one assist in five of the Sabres' last six games against Pacific Division opponents.
- Dylan Cozens has recorded at least one point in each of the Sabres' last six games against Pacific Division opponents.
- Rasmus Dahlin ranks 1st in the Eastern Conference for average time on ice (25:49) this season.
Edmonton Oilers Player Prop Facts
- Zach Hyman has scored at least one goal in eight of the Oilers' last 10 games.
- Evan Bouchard has recorded at least one point in nine of the Oilers' last 10 day games.
- Connor McDavid has recorded at least one assist in each of the Oilers' last 13 games.
- Connor McDavid ranks 1st in the league for Assists (77) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Buffalo Sabres rank 26th in the league in power play percentage this season (16.48%).
- The Buffalo Sabres rank 25th in the league for goals per game this season (2.89).
- The Edmonton Oilers rank 3rd in the league in power play percentage this season (26.82%).
- The Edmonton Oilers rank 5th in the league for goals per game this season (3.51).
Oilers vs Sabres Betting Prediction
Edmonton is coming off of a surprising loss to the Blue Jackets in their last game, but they have been one of the best teams in the NHL over the last few months and are 18-13-0 on the road. The Oilers are scoring 3.51 goals per game this season, but their defense has been the story, as it is much improved. Buffalo comes into this matchup on a three game losing streak and they have been out scored 11-5 in those three games. The Sabres are only 14-17-1 at home this year and I think they are going to struggle to score against this Edmonton defense. Take the Oilers -1.5 in this game.
