Toronto Maple Leafs vs Buffalo Sabres Betting Pick & Prediction 12/20/24

Planning on watching today’s Maple Leafs and Sabres game? Catch the action at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY, as the Sabres hosts this showdown at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The Maple Leafs come into this Atlantic division matchup as the -1.5 goal favorite to pick up the win. Currently, the over/under for the game is at 6 goals.

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS VS BUFFALO SABRES BETTING PICK

The Pick: Buffalo Sabres +1.5

This game will be played at KeyBank Center at 7:00 ET on Friday, December 20th.

WHY BET THE BUFFALO SABRES:

• With a 1.5 goal advantage on the spread, our projections favor the Maple Leafs to secure a 4-3 victory.
• Take the Maple Leafs on the moneyline
• On the puck line, we like Sabres (+1.5)

Can the Maple Leafs Live Up to the Hype on the Road?

Toronto fell to 20-10-2 with a 2-1 overtime loss to the Wild. The Maple Leafs trailed early, giving up a goal at 9:41 in the first period, but William Nylander tied it up with a power-play goal at 19:08. The Wild secured the win with a goal at 2:14 in overtime.

The total for the game was set at 6 goals, but the teams combined for just 3. Toronto, the underdog on the puck line, didn’t cover. The loss moved the Maple Leafs’ record to 20-10-2 for the season.

William Nylander netted his 9th goal of the season for the Maple Leafs in their 2-1 overtime loss to the Wild. Nylander’s goal came on a power play, with Auston Matthews earning his 6th assist and Mitchell Marner picking up his 12th.

Toronto fired 28 shots on goal but was held scoreless after Nylander’s goal at 19:08 in the first period. The Leafs recorded 10 giveaways during the game.

Toronto’s defense gave up the first goal at 9:41 in the first period and the game-winner at 2:14 into overtime. Goalie Anthony Stolarz made 31 saves with a 93.9% save percentage. The Maple Leafs’ defense also recorded 2 takeaways and 30 hits.

Will Buffalo Find a Way to Win at Home?

Buffalo dropped to 11-17-4 after a 2-1 road loss to the Red Wings. The Sabres took an early lead with a short-handed goal from Alex Tuch at 11:39 in the first period, but Detroit responded with two power-play goals in the second.

The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, but the teams combined for just 3. Buffalo, as the underdog on the puck line, failed to cover. They didn’t record an assist in the game and committed 13 giveaways.

Buffalo’s offense managed just one goal in their 2-1 loss to Detroit, with Alex Tuch scoring his 5th of the season on a shorthanded effort. The Sabres fired 32 shots on goal but couldn’t find the net again, and they recorded 13 giveaways.

After Tuch’s goal at 11:39 in the first period, the Sabres were held scoreless for the remainder of the game. It marked the second time this season that Buffalo has been held to just one goal.

Buffalo’s defense had a strong start, holding Detroit scoreless in the first period. However, they gave up two power-play goals in the second, leading to a 2-1 loss. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 21 saves with a 91.3% save percentage, and the Sabres’ defense added 5 takeaways and 17 hits.