Sabres vs Senators Prediction, Picks, Odds & Player Props (Thursday, April 2)

• Buffalo can clinch its first playoff berth in 15 years with any type of win Thursday in Ottawa
• The Sabres have won six straight against the Senators, and Ottawa’s blueline is missing five defensemen
• See my Sabres vs Senators prediction, picks, odds and player props for Thursday night

Buffalo (46-21-8) can punch its ticket to the postseason for the first time since 2011 with a win Thursday in Ottawa. The Sabres hit 100 points on Tuesday with a 4-3 win over the Islanders, reclaiming first place in the Atlantic Division.

Ottawa (38-26-10) needs every point it can get in the wild card race but is coming off a brutal 6-3 loss to Florida where they trailed 5-0 after the first period. The Senators have lost three straight and are still without five defensemen. Puck drop is at 7:00 pm ET from Canadian Tire Centre.

Here are my Sabres vs Senators prediction and picks for Thursday, plus the latest odds and player props. You can also check out the full NHL odds board for tonight’s slate.

Jump to: Prediction | Player Props | Odds

Sabres vs Senators Prediction

• Sabres Moneyline (+100 at DraftKings)

My Sabres vs Senators prediction is Buffalo on the moneyline. The Sabres have won all six meetings against Ottawa in their current streak, and they’re 7-1 on the road over their last eight games. Even money on a team that can clinch a playoff spot tonight is too good to pass up.

Ottawa is desperate, but desperation hasn’t translated to results. The Senators are 1-3 over their last four and got embarrassed by Florida on Tuesday. Their blueline is in shambles with Thomas Chabot, Jake Sanderson, Nick Jensen, Dennis Gilbert and Carter Yakemchuk all sidelined.

Sabres vs Senators Key Stats

The goaltending gap is massive. Buffalo’s .901 team save percentage ranks sixth in the NHL, while Ottawa’s .873 is dead last. The Sabres allow just 2.72 goals per game despite giving up 29.17 shots, which tells you how good their netminding has been.

The penalty kill is another big edge. Buffalo runs the seventh-best PK at 81.7%, while Ottawa’s 74.7% ranks 30th. The Sabres are 14-4 over their last 18 games, and a clinch-game atmosphere should bring out the best in a team that’s been waiting 15 years for this moment.

Sabres vs Senators Player Props

I’ve got three Sabres vs Senators player props for Thursday night.

• Ryan McLeod Over 0.5 Points (+120 at Bet365)

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McLeod has recorded a point in six straight games against the Senators, averaging 1.67 per game during that stretch. He centers Buffalo’s second line alongside Jason Zucker and Jack Quinn.

Plus money on a 100% hit rate in this specific matchup is an automatic play.

• Rasmus Dahlin Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (+127 at DraftKings)

Dahlin has cleared 2.5 shots in four of his last five games, averaging 3.2 per game. He’s also gone over in three of his last four against teams with winning records.

Ottawa’s depleted defense should give Dahlin plenty of room to fire from the point, and +127 is a nice price on a guy who’s been this aggressive recently.

• Shane Pinto Over 1.5 Shots on Goal (-187 at Bet365)

Wrapping up my Sabres vs Senators player props, I’m going with Pinto on the shot volume. He’s cleared 1.5 shots in seven of his last eight home games, averaging 2.62 per game.

The -187 juice is heavy, but an 87.5% hit rate at home makes it a stable play. Ottawa will need to generate offense to stay in this game, and Pinto should be firing. Both teams are fighting for positioning in the NHL playoff bracket, so expect a competitive effort from both sides.

Sabres vs Senators Odds

The interactive widget above will update automatically as the Sabres vs Senators odds move throughout the day.

Ottawa is a slight -118 home favorite, while Buffalo sits at even money. That’s a tight line for a team that’s won six straight in the series and is 14-4 over its last 18 games. The implied probability on the Sabres at +100 is 50%, which feels low given how they’ve played.

The puck line is steep on Buffalo’s side at +1.5 (-245), while Ottawa is +205 to win by two or more. The total sits at 6.5, with the over at +102 and the under at -115. Both power plays rank in the top 15, but Ottawa’s league-worst penalty kill and save percentage could push this game over the number.

Odds as of Apr. 2 via the best NHL betting apps.