Ottawa Senators at Buffalo Sabres Sharks Betting Preview
Opening Moneyline: Ottawa +120 / Buffalo -140 O/U 5.5 goals
Time: 7 PM EST Wednesday February 3, 2010
Tonight in a big Northeast Division match up the Buffalo Sabres host the Ottawa Senators. Buffalo is in 1st place in the division with a 5 point lead over Ottawa, but tonight will have their hands full against a Senators team that is one of the hottest teams in the league that is on a 9-game winning streak. The Sabres are coming off a loss and are only 4-4-2 in their last 10 games.
This season the Sabres are 18-5-5 at home and the Senators are 11-13-1 on the road.
In their last games Buffalo lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4 on Monday night and Ottawa beat the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 on Saturday.
The 9-game winning streak for the Senators is the longest in the history of the franchise.
The reason the Senators are winning is their defense, which has held their last 9 opponents to 2 goals or less. They will be facing a Buffalo offense that ranks 11th in the league in scoring (2.78 goals per game).
Ottawa G Brian Elliott (17 wins 2.50 GAA save percentage 90.9%) has been stellar as of late, as he has started 7 games in the current streak and has a minute GAA of only 1.13 in that span.
Elliott is 6-0-0 with a 1.85 GAA in his last 6 games against Buffalo.
Ottawa's offense ranks 12th in the league averaging 2.73 goals per game, but have played better lately because they are getting key players back from injuries. Jason Spezza has scored a goal in 4 straight games after missing time with a knee injury and Daniel Alfredsson has 11 points in 8 games since coming back from a shoulder injury.
Buffalo's defense, which is solid only allowing an average of 2.35 goals per game, has to key on Alfredsson who has 6 goals and 3 assists in his last 5 games against them.
Buffalo is not playing the best hockey as of late and they are glad to be home where they are 9-0-3 in their last 12 games as opposed to 0-4-1 in their last 5 road games.
Buffalo G Ryan Miller (29 wins 2.10 GAA save percentage 93.2%) has been solid this season ranking 1st in the league in GAA and save percentage, but in his last start he gave up 5 goals in the loss to Pittsburgh.
Ottawa is 9-1 in their last 10 games, has an Under record of 6-0 in their last 6 games, and has an Under record of 4-1 in their last 5 games against teams with a winning record.
Buffalo is 6-1 in their last 7 home games and has an Over record of 7-2 in their last 9 games against teams with a winning record.
The Senators have won 6 of their last 7 games in Buffalo and in the last 8 games in Buffalo there is an Over record of 6-1-1.
Our Selection : Ottawa has won 9 in a row and have gone Under the total in their last 6 games, and has an Under record of 4-1 in their last 5 games against teams with a winning record. Buffalo lost 5-4 to Pittsburgh in their last game and Ryan Miller let in a couple of weak goals, look for him to rebound with a strong effort tonight. Take Under 5.5 goals
Future Betting Odds
NHL Handicapping
New York Rangers at Philadelphia Flyers 4-11
Well, today's game in the City of Brotherly love is for all the marbles, as the Philadelphia Flyers host the New York Rangers. Both of these teams are tied for the 8th and last playoff spot in the East, so the winner of this game will make the playoffs while the loser will be watching them from home.