NHL Betting Advice and Picks: Ottawa vs. Buffalo Should be Entertaining

Oh, What Fun We Had Last Night

Quickly, last night was ' scoringabout enjoying the Canadian teams' scoring. If one wagered wisely and took both Overs, the cash was yours. Toronto and Montreal combined for seven goals. Vancouver and Edmonton totaled eight goals. Now, you sweated that first Canadian game at 2-2 late in the third period? Admit it. It is OK. 

There were the shot, goal, and point props that hit, proving that, yes, it is more than just moneylines and spreads regarding sports betting. Hey, for the first night, it did feel like those North Division battles during the pandemic. Those were fun. The only difference was having and not having crowds. 

Let's get back to business. 

Ottawa Senators at Buffalo Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres are very Canadian in nature. Buffalo features a hockey fanbase and reach that are tremendous. Look at their playoff television ratings. It is eye-opening. 

Buffalo drafted Owen Power as its top draft pick, and the defenseman figures to make an almost immediate impact. The Sabres, like the Senators, always seem to be searching for goaltending. Tonight’s matchup expects to feature Anton Forsberg for Ottawa and Buffalo counters with Craig Anderson. That is the projected plan, at least. 

Yes, the Senators and Sabres will be entertaining. Ottawa brought in some offensive talent in the form of Claude Giroux and Alex DeBrincat. Meanwhile, Buffalo is building a solid identity with Dom Granato as their head coach. Can Tage Thompson score around 30 goals again? Does Alex Tuch continue to perform at a 60-point pace? Buffalo can put up some numbers. 

When a game is close to even, the contest becomes how to capitalize on value plays. Is there a worry about overtime? In this case, the answer is yes. Hence, regulation bets are something to shy away. The total at an even 6.0 shows significant potential for a push. Taking Ottawa to score three or more goals at 1.85 is a sensible wager too. With offenses, especially on the power play, a step faster, it is worth a look. 

For this tilt, the moneyline is a pure coin flip. Both teams are going to score 2+ goals, more than likely. Both teams scoring at least once in the first period came in at 2.65. That could be worth a little bet. 

Washington Capitals at Toronto Maple Leafs

The Maple Leafs just are not going to be dull this season. What was a 2-2 game in Montreal turned into a 4-3 loss because of two lapses by their defensemen late in the third period. Toronto allowed a mere 23 shots, and Matt Murray’s glove-hand leaked, but these are things that just should not happen. 

Both teams come in after playing last night. Toronto and Washington also lost. The Capitals were “Czech’ed” 5-2 at home. This could be a panacea of sorts for the Maple Leafs. Washington’s defense is more unstable than theirs. 

The question is: do Washington and Toronto try to tighten things up some? Honestly, the Maple Leafs did and it made little difference. Maybe, Ilya Samsonov facing his former team will create a spark for both teams. 

Historical data is a little less relevant in the first few weeks of a season. It is a nice reference point but for our purposes, seeing what is in front of us is paramount here. Toronto needs a win. Both teams have star power that will want to get going. It was great that William Nylander cashed well but this may be a Matthews-Ovechkin battle. 

With the Over at 1.80 for seven or more goals scored, Canadian bettors have a bit less wiggle room. The plan here is to pick Toronto at 1.72 to win in regulation. The Maple Leafs will not want a close game in the third period. 

For now, shot props are not available just yet. The Auston Matthews shot prop should be wagered along with his anytime goal tonight. Again, look for the value.

Some Random Wagers For Canadian Sports Bettors Tonight

Here are some early ideas:

• Ottawa and Buffalo Over 6.0 goals - 1.86
• Calgary and Colorado Over 6.5 goals - 2.00
• Washington and Toronto Over 5.5 goals plus Toronto win - 2.30
• Senators, Maple Leafs, and Flames all to win - 5.25

Good luck, and take a look at our previews and much more. 

Numbers are via Sports Interaction and BetMGM.