Buffalo Sabres vs Ottawa Senators Prediction, Preview and Odds - 04/02/2026

Game Time: 7:00 pm ET, Thursday, April 4, 2026

Venue:  Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, ON

Where to Watch:  ESPN+

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  Sabres +105, Senators -125; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  Sabres +105, Senators -125; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  Sabres +105, Senators -125; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

Buffalo Sabres:  46-21-8 (1st place, Atlantic Division)

Ottawa Senators:  38-26-10 (5th place, Atlantic Division)

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Buffalo Sabres:  6-2-2 last 10

Ottawa Senators:  6-3-1 last 10

The Sabres are entering this game with 100 points, a 46-21-8 record overall, and they are 22-11-4 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the New York Islanders in their last game, winning that one at home 4-3. Jack Quinn, Tage Thompson, Bowen Byram, and Peyton Krebs each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Josh Norris led the team in assists with 2 while Jack Quinn led the team in shots on net in that game with 7. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 3 goals on 28 shots with 25 saves and a .893 save percentage. Their offense has scored 263 goals this season averaging 3.5 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 221 goals against them allowing 2.9 goals per game.

The Senators are entering this game with 86 points, a 38-26-10 record overall, and they are 18-11-6 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Florida Panthers in their last game, losing that one on the road 6-3. Michael Amadio, Drake Batherson, and Jordan Spence each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Michael Amadio, Lassi Thomson, Ridly Greig, and Tim Stützle each led the team in assists with 1 while Jordan Spence and Brady Tkachuk each led the team in shots on net in that game with 4. Linus Ullmark was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 5 goals on 16 shots with 11 saves and a .688 sv percentage before getting pulled and replaced by James Reimer who had 12 saves on 13 shots with a .923 save percentage. Their offense has scored 247 goals this season averaging 3.3 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 230 goals against them allowing 3.1 goals per game.

The current betting odds have the Sabres listed as a slight underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Sabres have looked great in their games this season with their 46-21-8 record overall which has them right at the top of their division in the East with one of the best records in the entire NHL. They have been a good road team too with their 22-11-4 road record this year. Meanwhile, the Senators have looked good in their games this season with their 38-26-10 record overall, but that record has them in the bottom half of their division in the East. They have looked good on home ice too with their 18-11-6 home record this season. The Senators are currently 2 points out of a playoff spot and they are in the middle of a really tight Wild Card race. They have looked good lately as they are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games, but they are starting to take a turn at the wrong time with 3 losses in a row now. They haven't looked good in these losses either, giving up a ton of goals in them, and they are starting to look like a team that is going to miss the playoffs. The Sabres are not one of those teams though as they lead their division and have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL over the last 2 months. They are 6-2-2 in their last 10 games and did hit a bit of a snag after going on such a hot streak, but now they have won 2 games in a row and have some momentum on their side again. These two teams have been trending in opposite directions lately and the Sabres aren't going to hold back with the Lightning right on their tail for the number 1 seed in the division. The best way to place a bet here is on the Sabres to win this game. 

Sabres Senators Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Thursday, April 4, 2026 (7:00 pm ET start time) is Sabres 4 Senators 3.

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Buffalo Sabres: 121-118 (+11.2 units) on the moneyline in all games. 34-32 (+6.9 units) on the moneyline when playing against a marginal winning team (Win Pct. 51% to 60%). 70-73 (+12.3 units) on the moneyline against explosive offensive teams - scoring 3+ goals/game. 26-17 UNDER off a win in their previous game.

Ottawa Senators: 122-122 (-18.8 units) on the moneyline in all games. 57-67 (-17.7 units) on the moneyline revenging a loss versus opponent as a favorite. 17-32 (-12.6 units) on the moneyline when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 75%). 13-7 UNDER at home versus very good teams - outscoring their opponents by 0.5+ goals/game. 

Buffalo Sabres:  N. Ostlund (C) Day To Day - Upper-Body. S. Carrick (C) Day To Day - Arm. J. Kulich (C) Out For Season - Ear. J. Danforth (RW) Out - Lower Body.

Ottawa Senators:  C. Yakemchuk (D) Day To Day - Upper Body. J. Sanderson (D) Out - Upper Body. T. Chabot (D) Out - Forearm. D. Gilbert (D) Out - Upper-Body. N. Jensen (D) Out - Lower-Body.

“It feels good to see that 100 on there. It’s been a lot of work, obviously. Lots of ups and downs. We still got a long ways to go here, but that feels good to hit that 100. I think it’s going to really give us some momentum here in the last few games and in the playoffs.” - Peyton Krebs after their win against the Islanders in their game on Tuesday.

“Disappointing. We talked about the importance of a good start in this building and that was the opposite. We just looked flat, didn’t have a lot of energy. We just weren’t good enough tonight. Flat out, we had a lot of players who weren’t good enough.” - Travis Green after his team’s loss against the Panthers in their game on Tuesday. 

LW Peyton Krebs

C Tage Thompson

RW Alex Tuch

LD Mattias Samuelsson

RD Rasmus Dahlin

G Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

LW Drake Batherson

C Tim Stutzle

RW Claude Giroux

LD Tyler Kleven

RD Artyom Zub

G Linus Ullmark

Points: Tage Thompson (78)

Goals: Tage Thompson (38)

Assists: Rasmus Dahlin (50)

GAA: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (2.58)

Points: Tim Stutzle (76)

Goals: Tim Stutzle (32)

Assists: Tim Stutzle (44)

GAA: James Reimer (2.42)

Coaches:

Buffalo Sabres: Lindy Ruff (2nd season)

Ottawa Senators: Travis Green (2nd season)