Premium NHL Pick : December 18 #2

Toronto Maple Leafs @ Buffalo Sabres:

Toronto Maple Leafs have been trying to improve on their sloppy start to the season and they have done a great job. They are 8-3 in their last 11 games and also have 4 wins in their last 5 games. They are 6-7-4 on road. Their record against the Sabres is not very promising. Toronto Maple Leafs are 0-5 SU when they play the Sabres at the HSBC Arena.

Sabres are coming off yet another loss against the Ottawa Senators. However this team plays , they seem to have a permanent problem beating the Senators. They were blanked by the depleted Senators on Wednesday with a score of 2-0. Ryan Miller stopped 26 shots but Sabres failed to score any goals. Their powerplay was terrible as they failed to score on six pp chances. They will have to make it work tonight. Toronto Maple Leafs has the worst penalty killing in the league at 70.1%. Sabres are sharp in this department. They have a 86.9% penalty kill rate at home.

Sabres had won both meetings this season. First one a 3-2 win at the HSBC and the second one a 3-0 win in Toronto.

Chris Butler remains sidelined for the Buffalo but Paul Gaustad is returning tonight. He missed 10 games because of a knee injury.

Leafs and Sabres have both lost their most recent games and both teams will try to bounce back tonight. Ryan Miller and Sabres defense has been good. They have allowed only 8 goals in last 5 matches. That's better than any team in the NHL. Leafs are a very offensive team especially after the addition of Kessel to the squad. He has 13 goals and 8 assists in 22 games.

Sabres play very good on home ice and they will try to go back to winning after dropping the last game in Ottawa. It won't be easy but I will go with the Sabres tonight. They should win this one in regulation.

PREMIUM NHL PICK: BUFFALO SABRES TO WIN [3 way bet - 60 minutes only]

1.91 @ Bodog.com

Outcome: