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The Buffalo Sabres head to Canadian Tire Centre to face the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, with puck drop set for 7:00 PM on ESPN+. Buffalo enters 17-14-4 and seventh in the Eastern Atlantic Division, while Ottawa is 18-13-4 and sixth, with both teams bringing real momentum into the break.
Buffalo is riding a six game winning streak and has finally started to travel better after a rough early road profile. Ottawa is hot too, winning four straight and five of six, and this matchup has an extra layer with Josh Norris playing his first game against the Senators since the trade that sent him to Buffalo.
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Buffalo Sabres vs Ottawa Senators Odds
These are the current betting lines for Tuesday night, and bettors should always monitor updated NHL odds as prices can move quickly leading into puck drop. Track movement and market updates with the latest Sabres vs Senators odds.
| Team | Moneyline | Puck Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Sabres | +130 | +1.5 (-196) | 6.0 (Over -120, Under -104) |
| Ottawa Senators | -155 | -1.5 (+160) | 6.0 (Over -120, Under -104) |
Buffalo Sabres Betting Form
Buffalo’s current run is not just puck luck, it is a team playing with pace and consistency night to night. The Sabres are winning games in different scripts, and the road confidence is building with multiple straight wins away from home. Josh Norris returning to full speed is a big part of that, and his production since Dec. 1 has helped stabilize the top six while giving Buffalo another shooter who can finish chances that used to die on the stick.
From a betting perspective, Buffalo’s value is tied to two things: whether they can keep generating offense at five on five, and whether they can stay disciplined enough to avoid giving Ottawa too many power-play reps. At +130, you are buying a team in form, but you are still taking on injury risk and matchup risk. Availability matters here, so monitor the Buffalo Sabres injury report before puck drop.
| Player | Status | Injury |
|---|---|---|
| Justin Danforth (RW) | Out | Lower Body |
| Colten Ellis (G) | Out | Upper Body |
| Tyson Kozak (C) | Questionable | Undisclosed |
| Jiri Kulich (C) | Out | Undisclosed |
| Conor Timmins (D) | Out | Undisclosed |
| Jason Zucker (LW) | Out | Lower Body |
Ottawa Senators Betting Form
Ottawa is trending up fast, and the biggest difference lately is how dangerous they look when games open up. They just handled Boston 6-2 and have been getting top-line production with Fabian Zetterlund, Tim Stützle, and Brady Tkachuk driving the results. Ottawa’s power play profile matters in this matchup because it is one of the cleanest edges they can create against an opponent that can drift into penalty trouble when protecting leads late.
At -155, the Senators are priced as the steadier home side, but the handicap depends on whether they can control the middle of the ice at five on five and keep Buffalo from living off rush chances. Ottawa’s depth scoring has helped during this streak, and it is a key reason the puck line at +160 is even on the table if you expect them to dictate game state. Availability matters here too, so monitor the Ottawa Senators injury report before puck drop.
| Player | Status | Injury |
|---|---|---|
| Lars Eller (C) | Out | Foot |
| Tyler Kleven (D) | Questionable | Lower Body |
| Shane Pinto (C) | Out | Lower Body |
Buffalo Sabres vs Ottawa Senators Matchup Breakdown
This game sets up as a battle between Buffalo’s confidence and Ottawa’s special teams leverage. Buffalo has the hotter overall streak, but Ottawa’s power play can swing a tight game quickly, and that is a real issue with a total sitting at 6.0 and both teams capable of getting to three goals.
Goaltending is another hinge point. Ottawa has been getting stability in net, and Buffalo has leaned on Alex Lyon recently. Starter confirmation matters here because it changes how you should price the total and whether puck line exposure makes sense. If both teams go with their expected starters, the market number looks fair. If either team pivots to a less-trusted option, the 6.0 can become far more fragile.
The situational angle also matters. Buffalo is playing with the emotion of Norris returning to Ottawa, and Ottawa is playing like a team that knows points are there for the taking in the standings. If you want a sharper framework for how to bet these rivalry style spots with goalie uncertainty and special teams edges, the NHL expert betting guide is a useful reference. If you are also tracking futures value while teams head into the break, the Stanley Cup betting guide can help you connect current form to longer-range pricing.
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Buffalo Sabres vs Ottawa Senators Predictions and Best Bets
Ottawa is the side lean at home, mostly because the special teams edge can decide a game that is otherwise close. The Senators’ power play production creates a higher floor in a matchup where Buffalo is dealing with multiple lineup absences and may have to manage minutes differently on the back end.
Buffalo’s case is straightforward: keep it five on five, turn this into a pace game, and force Ottawa to defend in transition. At +130, you do not need perfection, you need a game where Buffalo’s skill shows up early and they do not bleed penalties. If Ottawa starts slow again, Buffalo has the scoring to punish it.
The total at 6.0 is the more interesting market. Both teams have been scoring, but 6.0 still gives you room to land on a 3-2 or 3-3 type script depending on overtime variance. With Ottawa’s power play and Buffalo’s recent offensive form, the Over is live if the game gets loose. If both teams play it tighter before the break and the goalies are confirmed as the stronger options, the Under has value at the right price.
Best Bet: Ottawa Senators moneyline (-155).
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