The Edmonton Oilers and Buffalo Sabres meet Monday in NHL action at the Center. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.
The Edmonton Oilers are averaging 3.9 goals per game and are scoring on 31.4 percent of their power play opportunities. Connor McDavid leads Edmonton with 52 goals, Leon Draisaitl has 55 assists and Zach Hyman has 234 shots on goal. Defensively, the Edmonton Oilers are allowing 3.3 goals per game and are killing 75.3 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Jack Campbell has allowed 106 goals on 898 shots faced, and Stuart Skinner has given up 99 goals on 1,119 shots.
The Buffalo Sabres are averaging 3.7 goals per game and are scoring on 24.8 percent of their power play opportunities. Tage Thompson leads Buffalo with 42 goals, Rasmus Dahlin has 49 assists and Alex Tuch has 164 shots on goal. Defensively, the Buffalo Sabres are allowing 3.6 goals per game and are killing 72.3 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has given up 92 goals on 846 shots faced, and Craig Anderson has given up 56 goals on 683 shots.
The Oilers are 1-4 in their last 5 road games and 11-4 in their last 15 vs. Atlantic. The Sabres are 7-3 in their last 10 games following a win and 10-24 in their last 34 Monday games. The over is 35-15-5 in Oilers last 55 overall. The over is 4-0 in Sabres last 4 overall. The Oilers are 1-4 in the last 5 meetings in Buffalo and 1-4 in the last 5 meetings. The underdog is 9-2 in the last 11 meetings.
The Edmonton Oilers are the better team overall, but they’ve had issues against the Sabres in the past, and they’ve been tripped up on the road recently. The Buffalo Sabres need to take care of home ice if this season is going to end in success, and they have the offensive horses to keep up with the Oilers. Give me the plus money with the home team.