Buffalo vs Ottawa Prediction 5 November 2026
🔊 The Buffalo Sabres return home after taking seven of a possible eight points on the road. The Sabres have won three straight and will now look to close the two-point gap to the Ottawa Senators in the Eastern Conference standings. Ottawa, meanwhile, arrive in Buffalo after a painful loss to Anaheim: the Senators held the lead but then conceded six unanswered goals. Buffalo also won last season’s head-to-head series. Can the hosts exploit the visitors’ defensive problems?
Buffalo came out on top.
📊 The teams met three times in last season’s regular season, with the Buffalo Sabres winning twice: once in regulation and once in overtime. The Ottawa Senators won the other game. The Sabres also edged the scoring 12-10, but that narrow margin makes it too early to claim Buffalo have a clear edge.
Head-to-head statistics Buffalo - Ottawa
Buffalo have found their hero.
Three straight wins have lifted Lindy Ruff’s team to ninth in the Eastern Conference with 17 points. Tage Thompson has led the way, scoring 10 goals this season. The forward followed a hat-trick against Anaheim with two goals against Los Angeles. Buffalo still have problems on the penalty kill, though, having stopped just 68.6% of their opponents’ power-play chances.
Against the Kings, the Sabres took a 2-0 lead through goals from Jack Quinn and Thompson but allowed the hosts to draw level. Thompson struck on the power play with six minutes left in the third period to seal the win. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 27 saves, while his teammates blocked another 30 shots. Buffalo held on for a 3-2 victory.
Match Results: Buffalo Sabres
Ottawa blow a three-goal lead
The Ottawa Senators sit fourth in the Eastern Conference with 19 points, but consistency remains elusive. A 5-1 win over San Jose was followed by a collapse in Anaheim. Ottawa have plenty of attacking talent: Tim Stützle has 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists), while Claude Giroux had a goal and an assist in the last game. Discipline is another concern. The Senators have racked up 192 penalty minutes, compared with 140 for the Buffalo Sabres.
Ottawa could hardly have asked for a better start against the Ducks. Philip Tomasino, Giroux and Michael Amadio scored three first-period goals on just seven shots on target. Then the game turned. Anaheim were level by the second intermission and finished off the Senators in the third. Penalties proved particularly costly: the hosts scored their final four goals on the power play. Jonas Johansson made 27 saves but could not rescue Ottawa.
Match Results: Ottawa Senators
First-period prediction
At least two goals have been scored in the first period in six of Ottawa Senators’ last seven games. Meanwhile, the teams have combined for no more than two first-period goals in seven straight head-to-head meetings - exactly two would be enough for this pick. We’re backing over 1.5 first-period goals at odds of 1.73.
Match Result Prediction
Buffalo Sabres have avoided defeat in regulation in eight of their last nine NHL games. That run makes the home side a solid choice, with a regulation-time tie also covering the bet. We’re backing Buffalo Sabres to avoid defeat in regulation (1X) at odds of 1.47.
A Solid Bet
At least two goals have been scored in the first period in six of Ottawa Senators’ last seven games. The first-period over 0.5 goals bet needs just one. We’re backing it at odds of 1.15.
*Odds are approximate and may vary between bookmakers.
⭐️ Editor’s Prediction
The Ottawa Senators have just conceded six goals against Anaheim, including four while shorthanded. That gives the Buffalo Sabres every reason to make the most of their power-play opportunities, especially with Thompson in scoring form. But the Sabres have penalty-kill problems of their own, operating at just 68.6%, so a flawless defensive display from the hosts looks unlikely. Four of the Senators’ last five games have featured more than 5.5 goals. With both teams struggling on the penalty kill, my pick is over 5.5 total goals.
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Betting Tips: Buffalo Sabres - Ottawa Senators
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