Buffalo Sabres at Toronto Maple Leafs odds, picks and predictions

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The Buffalo Sabres (11-15-4) meet the Toronto Maple Leafs (18-10-2) Sunday at Scotiabank Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Sabres vs. Maple Leafs odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

Season series: First meeting; tied 2-2 in 2023-24

The Sabres were doubled up 4-2 in Washington Saturday, slipping to 0-6-3 in the past 9 games. The total pushed, and the Under is now 6-4-2 in the past 12 outings.

Buffalo is 1-4-0 in the past 5 games when playing on no rest, while the Under is 3-1-1.

The Maple Leafs also played Saturday, and they were also doubled up 4-2 in Detroit in an Original Six battle behind Joseph Woll. The Leafs are just 2-3-0 in the previous 5 outings, while the Under is 5-1-1 in the past 7 contests.

In the second end of a back-to-back, the Leafs are 3-2-1 with the Over-Under splitting 3-3.

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Sabres at Maple Leafs odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NHL odds. Lines last updated at 6:17 a.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Sabres +165 (bet $100 to win $165) | Maple Leafs -200 (bet $200 to win $100)
Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Sabres +1.5 (-150) | Maple Leafs -1.5 (+125)
Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -110 | U: -110)

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Sabres at Maple Leafs projected goalies

James Reimer (1-3-1, 3.58 GAA, .879 SV) vs. Dennis Hildeby (1-1-0, 4.03 GAA, .869 SV%)

Reimer is expected to face his former team in the second end of this back-to-back. He allowed 5 goals on 31 shots in a 6-5 shootout loss Monday against the Detroit Red Wings his last time out in his third start since coming over from the Ducks. He allowed 4 total goals on 52 shots in his first 2 starts.

Hildeby is likely to get the starting nod with Anthony Stolarz battling a lower-body injury and Joseph Woll having started in Detroit Saturday. Hildeby was tagged for 6 goals on 38 shots in his most recent appearance Oct. 22 in Columbus.

Sabres at Maple Leafs picks and predictions

Prediction

Maple Leafs 4, Sabres 3

Moneyline

The Maple Leafs (-200) will cost you 2 times your potential return, and that’s a little too expensive for the second end of a back-to-back with the third-string goaltender in between the pipes.

However, the Sabres (+165) also cannot be trusted, as Buffalo has managed a dismal 0-6-3 in the past 9 outings.

PASS.

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Puck line/Against the spread

While the SABRES +1.5 (-150) are 0-6-3 in the past 9 games, Buffalo has lost 6 of those games by a single goal. It has been right there, but just can’t get over the hump.

The Maple Leafs -1.5 (+125) is too risky, as there is plenty of concern with Hildeby in between the pipes. The Toronto offense will need to kick it up a notch, and that won’t be easy against the veteran Reimer.

Over/Under

OVER 6 (-110) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at most.

With Reimer is in the crease coming off a stinker, he is a good play. And Hildeby was hammered last time he appeared in the NHL, losing at Columbus. We should see plenty of fire-wagon hockey in T-Dot.

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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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