The Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs meet at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Monday night in a key Atlantic Division matchup.
This is the third and final meeting between these clubs this season, and Toronto has won the first two battles by three goals in each outing.
Can Buffalo salvage a game in the season series, or will the Buds complete the regular-season sweep? We’ll discuss in our NHL betting picks and predictions for the Sabres vs. Maple Leafs on Monday, March 13.
Sabres vs Maple Leafs best odds
Sabres vs Maple Leafs picks and predictions
The Sabres are coming off a 2-1 loss in overtime against the New York Rangers on home ice Saturday, and it was easily the team’s best effort in the past week. In fact, Buffalo has just one win in the past seven games, going 1-5-1 during the span dating back to February 26..
March hasn’t been kind to the Sabres, and their lack of goaltending and defense has hurt the team. Buffalo has coughed up 37 goals across the past eight games, and that simply won't do when it’s in the middle of a fight for a Wild Card spot.
The Leafs were lousy in Vancouver on March 4, suffering a 4-1 loss against a team not expected to make the postseason. However, they headed to New Jersey on March 7, and with a little rest, they posted an impressive 4-3 win.
Toronto followed that up with a 7-4 win over the Edmonton Oilers in a game with some fire-wagon hockey, showing that the Leafs are capable outscoring any team in the NHL.
Over the years, the Sabres have been a thorn in the side of the Leafs, but not this season. Look for Toronto to cash on the puck line, keeping Buffalo down.
My best bet: Maple Leafs -1.5 (+120 at BetMGM)
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Sabres vs Maple Leafs moneyline analysis
The Sabres are heavy underdogs in this Atlantic Division battle, and rightly so. Not only have they posted a 1-5-1 mark across the past seven games, but they've dropped three of those outings by two or more goals, with two losses coming by six goals each.
The last time Buffalo faced Toronto was February 21, and the Maple Leafs emerged from KeyBank Center in Buffalo with a 6-3 win as a favorite, cashing on the puck line in the process.
Toronto was favored last time out, cashing against Edmonton on the puck line in a 7-4 win. The Leafs have been so-so on the puck line, going 5-4 in the past nine games overall. However, when Toronto is favored, it is 7-5 in the past 12 ATS. More importantly, it is 2-0 ATS line against the Sabres this season.
Buffalo enters play with 16 wins in the past 23 road games, which is rather impressive. However, its just 1-4 in the past five against Eastern Conference foes, and 1-5 in the past six when playing on a day of rest.
The Leafs are 5-2 in the past seven on a day of rest, while winning four of the past five against Eastern Conference teams. Bank on the Leafs to cash on the puck line for a third straight meeting.
Sabres vs Maple Leafs Over/Under analysis
The Maple Leafs were having a bit of a power outage to start the month, going for just five total goals in three games. It’s safe to say that slump is over, as the Buds lit the lamp four times in New Jersey, and seven times against Edmonton — hitting the Over in both outings.
The Sabres have managed just nine goals in the past four games, and that includes four markers in Dallas on Thursday. The Under is 3-1 in the past four games for Buffalo, as the goaltending of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Eric Comrie has been decent.
However, due to the Leafs recent scoring and the fact the Over is 5-2-1 in the past eight meetings, the lean is to the Over. We saw seven total goals in the first meeting in Toronto November 19, and nine total goals in Buffalo February 21. Look for another Over result Monday.
Sabres vs Maple Leafs betting trend to know
The Maple Leafs have won the last two games against Buffalo by at least two goals. Find more NHL betting trends for Sabres vs Maple Leafs.
Sabres vs Maple Leafs game info
| Location: | Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON |
| Date: | Monday, March 13, 2023 |
| Puck drop: | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: | MSG-Buffalo, Sportsnet |
Sabres vs Maple Leafs key injuries
