Buffalo Sabres vs Ottawa Senators Prediction, 4/2/2026 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Buffalo Sabres vs Ottawa Senators

Date: Thursday, April 2, 2026

Location: Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON

TV: TSN5

The Buffalo Sabres (46-21-8) are headed to Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday where they will meet the Ottawa Senators (38-26-10).

The Buffalo Sabres were on the right side of the scoreboard with a 4-3 win over the Islanders in their previous contest . Buffalo compiled 13 mins in the box in this matchup. The Sabres had a solid offensive performance in this victory. In addition, they had 4 power play tries and were able to notch 2 goals. In the outing, they converted 4 out of the 33 shots they tried.

Buffalo Sabres opponents have tallied 208 power play tries (21st in hockey) and have racked up 38 goals in those attempts. The Sabres have had 2,203 shots taken against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .900. Buffalo has attempted 2,115 shots and holds a shot percentage of 12.2%. While playing at even strength, the Sabres have allowed 183 goals while having 210 themselves. Buffalo comes into the game with 224 power play opportunities and they have notched 48 goals out of those tries, giving them a percentage of 21.43%. For the current campaign, they sit with 100 points and their points percentage is .667. In reference to their scoring capabilities, the Buffalo Sabres have tallied 258 goals (6th in the National Hockey League) on the season and have given up 221.

The player guarding the cage in this matchup is Alex Lyon. Lyon has been involved in 148 matchups during his professional hockey career. He has amassed a mark of 71-47-15 and he started in 133 games. Opponents have racked up 392 goals against Lyon in his career and his goals against average per game is 2.95. Lyon has seen 4,060 shots taken against him and has gathered 3,668 total saves. His save percentage is .903 in his 6,072 mins between the pipes. Over the course of his pro career, Lyon has accumulated 74 quality starts and his rate for quality starts is .556.

In their last contest, Ottawa went up against the Panthers in a game where the Senators were on the wrong end of the score by a mark of 6-3. They had 5 opportunities on the power play in this matchup but weren't able to notch a goal. The Senators earned 3 goals of the 26 shots on goal they tried.

On the year, the Ottawa Senators are sitting with 244 goals, 86 points, in addition to a points percentage of .581. They have permitted 229 goals to be scored by of a combination of 174 goals at even strength and 55 goals while they had less men on the ice. The Senators are sitting with 190 goals at even strength and 54 goals (6th in the league) while on the power play. They have a tally of 241 opportunities on the power play and they have a power play percentage of 22.41%. Ottawa has attempted 2,138 shots (11th in pro hockey) and has accumulated a shot percentage of 11.41%, while allowing the other team 1,801 shots. They have recorded a penalty kill percentage of 74.65% on their opponents 217 power play opportunities, and their save percentage currently sits at 87.3%.

On the other side of the ice you are going to see Linus Ullmark in net. Ullmark has compiled a career record of 186-98-34 and has been in goal for 334 games. Ullmark's percentage of quality starts sits at 62.3% and he has accumulated 202 quality starts in his NHL career. He has recorded 8,779 stops out of 9,609 shots taken, giving him a rate of .914. The opposition is averaging 2.56 goals per contest and he has allowed 830 goals altogether. He has made the start in 324 games and has played 15,528 mins.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Tony's Pick: Take Buffalo

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