PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* NHL PLAY OF THE DAY >> 12-4 L16 NHL!
(NHL) Ottawa vs. Buffalo,
Total: 5.50 | 106.00 Under
Result: Win
Total: 5.50 | 106.00 Under
Result: Win
The set-up: The Buffalo Sabres will play their regular-season home finale against the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night, as owners the worst record in all of hockey at 25-42-12 (62 points). The 27-41-11 Senators have 65 points (just three more than Buffalo) but tonight's contest is the first of a season-ending three-game road trip. Buffalo's place in the standings attests to its season-long struggles but its last two games were indicative of the wild inconsistency. The Sabres followed a 7-4 win at NHL-best Nashville with a 5-2 setback in Toronto. The Senators dropped a 6-5 decision to Winnipeg on Monday in their home finale, the eighth defeat in their last nine games. Ottawa will be without captain Erik Karlsson the rest of the way, and has lost five of six in the series, having not beaten Buffalo in regulation in the past 11 matchups.
Ottawa: Karlsson (team-high 62 points, including 53 assists) will be allowed to remain home to be with his wife as the couple deals with the stillborn death of their son. The superstar defenseman, the subject of multiple trade rumors throughout the season, reached into the net after Monday's game to grab the puck, leading to speculation of whether he's played his last game for Ottawa. The will also make a decision on Wednesday morning in regard to F Mark Stone, who has missed the last 12 games. Stone also has 62 points, including 20 goals.
Buffalo: One of the bright spots for Buffalo has been the play of center Sam Reinhart, who followed up a hat trick in Nashville by scoring against Toronto to establish career highs in goals (24) and points (48). Reinhart has amassed 17 goals and 18 assists over his last 35 games.Fellow center Jack Eichel leads the Sabres in scoring with 62 points (25 goals, 37 assists) in 64 games, while a third center, Ryan O'Reilly, is second on the team with 58 points (22 goals, 36 assists) in 58 games.
The pick: The Sabres have lost eight of their last 11 games as they prepare to finish their first season under head coach Phil Housley. However, they still have a chance to climb out of the basement in the Atlantic Division Ottawa is stumbling towards the end of what's been a remarkably frustrating and surprising season. The Senators have lost eight of their last nine games, with the lone win coming in overtime against the Florida Panthers last Thursday. Both teams are among the very worst defensive clubs in the NHL, with Buffalo ranking 29th and Ottawa 30th among the league's 31 teams in goals allowed per game. Ottawa allows 3.26 GPG on the road and Buffalo allows 3.32 GPG at home. Make the Over a 10* play.
Ottawa: Karlsson (team-high 62 points, including 53 assists) will be allowed to remain home to be with his wife as the couple deals with the stillborn death of their son. The superstar defenseman, the subject of multiple trade rumors throughout the season, reached into the net after Monday's game to grab the puck, leading to speculation of whether he's played his last game for Ottawa. The will also make a decision on Wednesday morning in regard to F Mark Stone, who has missed the last 12 games. Stone also has 62 points, including 20 goals.
Buffalo: One of the bright spots for Buffalo has been the play of center Sam Reinhart, who followed up a hat trick in Nashville by scoring against Toronto to establish career highs in goals (24) and points (48). Reinhart has amassed 17 goals and 18 assists over his last 35 games.Fellow center Jack Eichel leads the Sabres in scoring with 62 points (25 goals, 37 assists) in 64 games, while a third center, Ryan O'Reilly, is second on the team with 58 points (22 goals, 36 assists) in 58 games.
The pick: The Sabres have lost eight of their last 11 games as they prepare to finish their first season under head coach Phil Housley. However, they still have a chance to climb out of the basement in the Atlantic Division Ottawa is stumbling towards the end of what's been a remarkably frustrating and surprising season. The Senators have lost eight of their last nine games, with the lone win coming in overtime against the Florida Panthers last Thursday. Both teams are among the very worst defensive clubs in the NHL, with Buffalo ranking 29th and Ottawa 30th among the league's 31 teams in goals allowed per game. Ottawa allows 3.26 GPG on the road and Buffalo allows 3.32 GPG at home. Make the Over a 10* play.
