Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NHL match.
After a rough road trip in Florida, the Buffalo Sabres return to home ice looking to snap their losing streak against the Edmonton Oilers, who have rediscovered winning form and are chasing the Vegas Golden Knights at the top of the Pacific Division.
Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres made moves at the trade deadline, but the addition of top-line centre Josh Norris (20+13) from the Ottawa Senators hasn’t yet translated into improved results. His debut for the Sabres ended in a 0:4 defeat to the Florida Panthers, marking their sixth consecutive loss. Over this stretch, they twice fell to the Montreal Canadiens, who are outside the playoff zone, and even suffered a heavy 2:6 home loss to the bottom-feeders, the San Jose Sharks. Defensively, the Sabres have been among the league’s worst—conceding 41 goals in their last 10 games, a tally only exceeded by the Pittsburgh Penguins (44) and, notably, the Edmonton Oilers (42).
Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers’ defensive struggles are reflected in advanced metrics as well. Over their last 10 games, they’ve allowed 3.44 xG per match—ranking sixth-worst in the NHL. To make matters worse, their most reliable defenceman, Mattias Ekholm, who logs 22.5 minutes per game, is now sidelined with an injury. However, in attack, last year’s Stanley Cup finalists remain as potent as ever. Over the weekend, they fired five goals past the Dallas Stars (5:4), with their top-six forwards combining for eight points.
Buffalo Sabres vs Edmonton Oilers Prediction
This game sets up perfectly for a high-scoring shootout. Both teams have been conceding heavily to virtually every opponent, and the Buffalo Sabres lead the NHL in games going over the total (65.4%). Expect an open contest with plenty of goals.
