Edmonton Oilers vs. Buffalo Sabres: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 3/6/2023

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

Venue: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY

Where to watch: HULU, ESPN+, SN, TVAS

DraftKings: Oilers -145, Sabres +125

FanDuel: Oilers -145, Sabres +125

BetMGM: Oilers -145, Sabres +125

Caesars: Oilers -145, Sabres +125

Oilers: 34-22-8

Sabres: 32-25-4

The All-Star break is over, the second half of the NHL season can officially begin, and we're bound for what should be a very exciting second half of the hockey season. Basketball and hockey are about to rule the roost in the sports betting world once the Super Bowl is done with, and we should all be very excited for what's to come. When the trade deadline hits and players switch teams, you know things are about to get hectic over these final 30 games or so. One way you can stay tuned with the action is following what our champion handicappers are doing in the world of the NHL. Look at ASA, Inc., reeling in a $6,750 profit off a 17-9-0 run. Al McMordie is also doing well on the ice with a 13-5-0 run and a net profit of $6,050. Scott Rickenbach has also been hanging strong with a lot of betting action, in what's been an unusual year, with a 24-18-0 run and reeling in $5,950. You know this action is going to be great now that games are back and a busy second half if on the horizon. All you need to do is head to our BEST BETS page at bigal.com to find out all of what we're trying to tell you. Make sure you're locked in at bigal.com and go to our Best Bets page to find out what our champion handicappers have to say in the world of the NHL!

The Edmonton Oilers will take on the Buffalo Sabres on March 6, 2023, in a highly anticipated game at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. Both teams have had an up-and-down season so far, with the Oilers looking to solidify their spot in the playoffs and the Sabres hoping to climb out of the bottom of the standings.

 

The Oilers have had a strong start to the season, currently sitting in the top three in the Pacific Division with a record of 34-22-8. Led by superstar Connor McDavid, who leads the league in points with 122 points, the Oilers boast one of the most potent offenses in the NHL. But Edmonton is coming off a 7-5 loss to the Winnipeg Jets in the home-and-home on Friday and Saturday. McDavid had just an assist, but Leon Draisaitl had a hat trick in the loss. 

 

The Sabres are trying to make a run at the playoffs, and that’s going to be the big storyline going into this one. Buffalo is coming off a 5-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in a game where the top line of Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point were benched in the third period. Just wild stuff. Tage Thompson had a goal and an assist, as did Jeff Skinner, and Eric Comrie made 33 saves in one of his better performances of the season.

 

Both teams will be looking for a win in this matchup, with the Oilers hoping to continue their push towards the playoffs and the Sabres hoping to spoil their opponents' plans. The key for the Oilers will be to continue their offensive dominance while tightening up defensively. Goaltender Mike Smith will need to have a strong performance in net to keep the Sabres' struggling offense at bay. The Sabres, on the other hand, will need to find a way to generate offense against a tough Oilers defense now that it has added Mattias Ekholm.

 

Overall, this game has the potential to be an exciting matchup between two teams with different goals for the remainder of the season. The Oilers will be looking to continue their strong play and make a push towards the playoffs, while the Sabres will be looking to play spoiler and gain some momentum for the future. Fans can expect a high-scoring game with plenty of offensive firepower on display.

 

McDavid. Draisaitl. Thompson. Rasmus Dahlin. All the fun offense, not good goaltending, etc. Have fun with this one and the over. Sabres 6, Oilers 4

Oilers:

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- Connor McDavid -- Kailer Yamamoto

Klim Kostin -- Leon Draisaitl -- Zach Hyman

Mattias Janmark -- Ryan McLeod -- Warren Foegele

Derek Ryan -- Devin Shore

Darnell Nurse -- Cody Ceci

Mattias Ekholm -- Evan Bouchard

Brett Kulak -- Philip Broberg

Vincent Desharnais

Stuart Skinner

Sabres:

Jeff Skinner -- Tage Thompson -- Jack Quinn

Casey Mittelstadt -- Dylan Cozens -- Vinnie Hinostroza

JJ Peterka -- Peyton Krebs -- Victor Olofsson

Zemgus Girgensons -- Tyson Jost -- Kyle Okposo

Mattias Samuelsson -- Rasmus Dahlin

Owen Power -- Henri Jokiharju

Riley Stillman -- Ilya Lyubushkin

Eric Comrie