{"id":476569,"date":"2025-10-24T08:54:17","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T12:54:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=476569"},"modified":"2025-10-24T08:54:17","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T12:54:17","slug":"nhl-predictions-october-24th-toronto-maple-leafs-vs-buffalo-sabres","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2025\/10\/24\/nhl-predictions-october-24th-toronto-maple-leafs-vs-buffalo-sabres\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Predictions: October 24th Toronto Maple Leafs vs Buffalo Sabres"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"74\" data-end=\"118\">Welcome back to another edition of NHL Predictions, with us here at Last Word On Hockey. The <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2025\/10\/23\/toronto-maple-leafs-injury-news-update-defenceman\/\" target=\"_self\">Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a> (3-3-1) hit the road Friday night to take on the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2025\/10\/22\/nhl-predictions-october-22nd-detroit-red-wings-at-buffalo-sabres\/\" target=\"_self\">Buffalo Sabres<\/a> (3-4-0).<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"74\" data-end=\"118\">NHL Predictions Leafs vs Sabres<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"74\" data-end=\"118\"><strong>2024-25 Season Series<\/strong>: Leafs 3-0<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"74\" data-end=\"118\"><strong>Time:<\/strong> 7:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"1286\" data-end=\"1771\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/full-guide-for-how-to-stream-and-watch-nhl-hockey-games\/#google_vignette\" target=\"_self\">How to Watch:<\/a> Sportsnet Ontario, EPSN<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Location:<\/strong> KeyBank Center at Buffalo, New York<\/p>\n<p>Tonight&#8217;s game figures to be a high-pressure Atlantic Division showdown. Toronto arrives underwhelmingly inconsistent early in the season. Meanwhile, Buffalo is slightly ahead in the standings but showing offensive limitations. Here\u2019s how this matchup shapes up, and why the Leafs still have the edge.<\/p>\n<h3>Offence &amp; Defence Match-up<\/h3>\n<p>Toronto\u2019s offence has averaged roughly 3.4 goals-per-game (24 goals over seven games), ranking 12th in the league. Buffalo, by contrast, has generated just 2.7 goals per game (19 goals over seven games), placing them 27th in NHL scoring.<\/p>\n<p>Defensively, Toronto is leaking 3.6 goals-per-game (25 goals allowed), ranking 19th. Buffalo is giving up about 2.9 goals-per-game (20 allowed), which is much stronger (11th in the league).<\/p>\n<p>So while Toronto holds an edge in offensive punch, Buffalo\u2019s defence has been more consistent, setting up a classic \u201c<em>attack vs structure<\/em>\u201d narrative.<\/p>\n<h3>Recent Trends &amp; Momentum<\/h3>\n<p>The Sabres come into this game riding a strong home-ice trend. They\u2019ve won three straight games in Buffalo, and 15 of their last 20 contests at home.<\/p>\n<p>On the other side, the Maple Leafs have struggled to close out games when they\u2019re listed as favourites; they are 3-4 when favoured this season.<\/p>\n<p>These trends suggest Buffalo might have the psychological edge at home, but Toronto still has the higher ceiling.<\/p>\n<h4 data-start=\"1778\" data-end=\"1805\">Key Players to Watch<\/h4>\n<ul data-start=\"1806\" data-end=\"2609\">\n<li data-start=\"1806\" data-end=\"2000\">\n<p data-start=\"1808\" data-end=\"2000\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.nhl.com\/mapleleafs\/player\/william-nylander-8477939\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong data-start=\"1808\" data-end=\"1828\">William Nylander<\/strong><\/a> leads Toronto with 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in seven games making him one of the most productive forwards in the early season.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2001\" data-end=\"2125\">\n<p data-start=\"2003\" data-end=\"2125\"><strong data-start=\"2003\" data-end=\"2019\">John Tavares<\/strong> is also contributing at nine points (four goals, fivr assists) in seven games.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2126\" data-end=\"2261\">\n<p data-start=\"2128\" data-end=\"2261\">For Buffalo, <strong data-start=\"2141\" data-end=\"2155\">Jack Quinn<\/strong> and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.nhl.com\/sabres\/player\/josh-doan-8482659\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong data-start=\"2160\" data-end=\"2173\">Josh Doan<\/strong><\/a> both have six points each (three goals, three assists).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2262\" data-end=\"2450\">\n<p data-start=\"2264\" data-end=\"2450\">Goaltending is a factor: Toronto\u2019s starter <strong data-start=\"2307\" data-end=\"2326\">Anthony Stolarz<\/strong> is 2-3-1 this season with a 3.01 goals-against average and an .894 save percentage, some numbers that raise concern.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2451\" data-end=\"2609\">\n<p data-start=\"2453\" data-end=\"2609\">Meanwhile, Buffalo\u2019s <strong data-start=\"2474\" data-end=\"2487\">Alex Lyon<\/strong> is 2-4 with a 2.55 GAA and a .924 SV%, offering a stabilizing presence in net.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 data-start=\"2616\" data-end=\"2648\">Prediction &amp; Key Outcomes<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"2649\" data-end=\"2935\">Toronto needs to play a complete game: generate high-danger chances, enforce tempo, and limit Buffalo\u2019s time and space in their zone. Given Toronto\u2019s offensive capabilities and Buffalo\u2019s relative scoring inefficiency (2.7 GPG), the Leafs are primed to exploit the Sabres\u2019 weaker attack.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2937\" data-end=\"3183\"><em>The prediction: <strong data-start=\"2953\" data-end=\"2996\">Toronto Maple Leafs 4, Buffalo Sabres 2<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2937\" data-end=\"3183\">Toronto\u2019s higher-end upside, led by Nylander and Tavares, should carry them. Buffalo will push hard at home, but may struggle to finish consistently against Toronto\u2019s offensive depth.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"3185\" data-end=\"3210\"><strong data-start=\"3185\" data-end=\"3208\">Best bets to watch:<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul data-start=\"3211\" data-end=\"3422\">\n<li data-start=\"3211\" data-end=\"3240\">\n<p data-start=\"3213\" data-end=\"3240\">Leafs moneyline (favored)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3241\" data-end=\"3369\">\n<p data-start=\"3243\" data-end=\"3369\">Total goals <strong data-start=\"3255\" data-end=\"3265\">Over 6<\/strong> (Toronto games have gone over this total five of seven times)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3370\" data-end=\"3422\">\n<p data-start=\"3372\" data-end=\"3422\">William Nylander to record a multiple-point game<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"3451\" data-end=\"3816\">For Toronto, a win here would provide momentum in a challenging Atlantic Division and help quiet critics who question their consistency. For Buffalo, a home loss shifts pressure back onto a young roster trying to establish identity and effectiveness. The Leafs\u2019 ability to win on the road under pressure is a meaningful barometer for their playoff-contender status.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3451\" data-end=\"3816\">Main Photo Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome back to another edition of NHL Predictions, with us here at Last Word On Hockey. The Toronto Maple Leafs (3-3-1) hit the road Friday night to take on the Buffalo Sabres (3-4-0). NHL Predictions Leafs vs Sabres 2024-25 Season Series: Leafs 3-0 Time: 7:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) How to Watch: Sportsnet Ontario, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5672,"featured_media":476576,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18,3,4547,4548,4524],"tags":[6254,6062],"class_list":["post-476569","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-leafs","category-sabres","category-hockey","category-nhl","category-nhl-predictions","tag-buffalo-sabres-predictions","tag-toronto-maple-leafs-predictions"],"modified_by":"Levi Pike, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/476569","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5672"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=476569"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/476569\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":476577,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/476569\/revisions\/476577"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/476576"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=476569"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=476569"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=476569"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}