The Toronto Maple Leafs (34-15-8) head down the QEW to face the Buffalo Sabres (28-22-4) Tuesday at KeyBank Center in Buffalo. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+/hulu). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Maple Leafs vs. Sabres odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Maple Leafs were stunned on the road by the Chicago Blackhawks Sunday as a heavy favorite (-310). The Leafs have scored 3 or more goals in 5 straight games, and 2 or more goals in 17 consecutive outings since Jan. 5.
The Sabres doubled up the San Jose Sharks by a 4-2 score on Saturday night, and Buffalo has outscored the opposition 11-5 in the last 2 victories. The Over is 3-1 in the last 4 games overall for the Sabres.
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Maple Leafs at Sabres odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:51 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Maple Leafs -160 (bet $160 to win $100) | Sabres +140 (bet $100 to win $140)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Maple Leafs -1.5 (+150) | Sabres +1.5 (-175)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -135 | U: +115)
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Maple Leafs at Sabres projected goalies
Ilya Samsonov (19-7-2, 2.38 GAA, .915 SV%, 3 SO) vs. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (14-7-2, 3.41 GAA, .898 SV%)
Samsonov was hammered for 4 goals on 27 shots in a 5-3 loss in Chicago on Sunday. He had a 30-save shutout in Columbus on Feb. 10, but he has been rather erratic in February, going 2-2-0 with a 2.78 GAA and .904 SV%.
Luukkonen turned aside 33 of the 35 shots he faced in a 4-2 win in San Jose, snapping a personal 3-game winless skid. He is just 1-2-0 with a 4.37 GAA and .880 SV% in 3 games this month.
Luukkonen allowed 4 goals on 23 shots in a 5-2 loss in Toronto in his 1st start of the season.
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Maple Leafs at Sabres picks and predictions
Prediction
Sabres 4, Maple Leafs 3
Moneyline
The SABRES (+140) are a decent moderate underdog on home ice.
It’s the perfect storm for the ‘dog to cash, as Toronto heads into this game with just a single win in the last 5 road outings, while going 2-5 in the last 7 inside the Atlantic Division.
On the flip side, Buffalo is just 2-6 in the last 8 at home, but it is 4-0 in the last 4 games after 2 days of rest. And the home team is 38-15 in the past 53 games in this series, while the Leafs are 16-38-2 in the past 56 trips to Buffalo.
Puck line/Against the spread
The SABRES +1.5 (-175) are a little on the expensive side on the puck line, and if its gets any more expensive, shy away.
Buffalo has covered 4 of the last 7 on the puck line as an underdog, while Toronto is just 2-2 in the last 4 as a favorite on the puck line.
Over/Under
The OVER 6.5 (-135) is the lean, but go very lightly.
The Over has cashed at a 5-2-1 clip in the last 8 games overall for the Maple Leafs, while going 6-2 in the last 8 games for the Sabres against the Atlantic Division. The Over is also 6-2 in the last 8 games when playing on 2 days of rest, too.
The Over is 22-8-4 in the past 34 games in this series, while going 15-5-2 in the past 22 meetings in Buffalo.
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