The Buffalo Sabres (16-11-7) make the short trek north to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs (16-14-4) in a Tuesday Atlantic Division tilt at Scotiabank Arena at 7 p.m. ET. We analyze the Sabres-Maple Leafs odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips around this matchup.
Sabres at Maple Leafs: Projected starting goalies
Carter Hutton vs. Frederik Andersen
Hutton owns a 3.05 goals against average and .901 save percentage and is the lesser half of the Sabres’ goaltending tandem this season. Hutton has only appeared in one other game this December, and it was one to forget, with six goals allowed on 30 shots against the Vancouver Canucks Dec. 7. The 33-year-old owns a lowly .864 SV% over his last six contests. He has logged a 3.65 GAA and .892 SV% on the road.
Andersen owns a 2.49 GAA and .921 SV%. Toronto’s top netminder stopped 29 of 30 shots against Buffalo Nov. 30, and he registered a 2.60 GAA, .929 SV% in three starts against the Sabres a year ago. Andersen has been sharp of late, posting a .933 SV% over his last eight games.
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Sabres at Maple Leafs: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 10:45 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Toronto 4, Buffalo 2
Moneyline (ML)
An analytic read of Toronto’s shot and goal splits reveals a Maple Leafs club which should be yielding fewer even-strength goals and one which as perhaps had some sideways puck luck on scoring chances, especially plays near the door step. An improving penalty kill won’t hurt – the Leafs have killed 76% of opponent chances overall but 89% since Nov. 27.
TORONTO (-200) is the lean here, albeit a bit of an expensive one.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
Both teams have been off since Saturday, so this one should offer the best both have to give. Tuesday’s affair marks the second in a three-game road stretch for the Sabres. Buffalo has fallen off since starting the season 8-1-1, so the Sabres really should be approached as a sub-.500 club.
PASS on the Maples Leafs’ (-1.5, +135) puck line, Buffalo is 12-6 ATS over 18 road games. Toronto is just 4-11 at home.
Over/Under (O/U)
The Over is a lean, but a PASS is recommended on the line of 5.5 (-154).
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