NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions for Tuesday: Sabres vs. Oilers (10/18)
We’re about a week into the new NHL season, and most teams have 2-3 games under their belts so far. While it’s still very early, we’re getting some quality insight into how teams will fare compared to what we expected in the preseason.
As for tonight’s action, there are eight games on the docket, with a quartet of east coast games getting us going at 7:00 p.m. ET. I’ve listed my top three bets for the NHL tonight. Let’s take a closer look at Sabres vs. Oilers.
Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook
Prop Bet Analyzer: View top-rated props and historical prop performance by player >>
NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions for Tuesday: Sabres vs. Oilers
Buffalo Sabres vs. Edmonton Oilers
Both the Sabres and Oilers come into tonight’s game at 1-1-0, and they’re each coming off of losing efforts last time out. For Buffalo, it was a 4-3 home loss to the Panthers, while the Oilers dropped a 4-3 affair to the Flames in the Battle of Alberta. Tonight’s game is set for 9:00 p.m. ET from Rogers Place in Edmonton.
Those 4-3 losses for the Sabres likely won’t be anomalies this season. This is a young, offense-minded club with not too much on the defensive end to limit opponents. That includes an aging Craig Anderson, who will likely get the start in net tonight. Despite my slander, the 41-year-old netminder is 1-0-0 on the year with a 1.00 GAA (1st) and .972 SV% (1st). You can try to spin it either way, whether he’s on track to have a renaissance year or it’s just a one-game sample size against the lowly Senators. Regardless, he was solid in the opener, but I think he may have some issues against a much tougher offense in Edmonton tonight.
The Oilers bring in the 10th-ranked offense in terms of scoring (4.0 gpg), and they’re also second on the power play at 4-8 (50.00%) to start the year. The dynamic duo of Connor McDavid (4G, 1A) and Leon Draisaitl (1G, 4A), like usual, have carried the offensive load to begin the season, and they’ve combined for seven power-play points out of the gate. Newcomer Jack Campbell should get the start tonight in net, and he’s 1-1 with a 5.98 GAA and .851 SV% to start the year.
The Sabres will have their hands full defensively as they take on arguably the top two players in hockey tonight in McDavid and Draisaitl. These two, alongside Zach Hyman and Kailer Yamamoto, should be able to expose this youthful and inexperienced Buffalo defense. This has all of the makings of a barn burner, but I like for the Oilers to find a way to stretch their lead out to two-plus goals tonight. Their power play unit is just too dominant and should be able to notch at least one goal against this 16th-ranked PK unit (80.00%) that the Sabres own. Let’s ride with the Oilers on the puck line with an even-money payout.
Bet: Edmonton Oilers -1.5 (+100 via Caesars)
Join the BettingPros Discord Chat for Live Betting Advice >>
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox | Pocket Casts
Whether you’re new to sports betting or a betting pro, our How To Bet and Sports Betting Strategy and Advice pages are for you. You can get started with our How To Section — including How to Avoid the 7 Biggest Sports Betting Mistakes — or head to a more advanced strategy — like Thinking Like an Expert Sports Bettor — to learn more.