Senators vs. Sabres Prediction, NHL Odds & Best Bets (11/4)

Fact checked at 7:27 AM ET, Nov 4, 2026

Odds as of 7:00 AM ET, Nov 4, 2026

Ottawa (9-6-1) closes a five-game road trip at KeyBank Center against Buffalo (7-4-3), with puck drop at 7:30 PM ET. The Sabres come home after sweeping three games in California, the last a 3-2 win in Los Angeles in which Tage Thompson scored twice. The Senators blew a three-goal lead in a 6-3 loss at Anaheim their last time out. Neither team can trust its goalie tonight, and we expect goals at both ends.

Linus Ullmark skated at the end of Ottawa's practice but is still on injured reserve, so the start goes to Samuel Ersson or Jonas Johansson. Ottawa hasn't said which, and the two have a combined .857 save percentage. Buffalo is without Alex Lyon, and Colten Ellis is the projected starter. The league's own preview pointed out that Ellis and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen both carry a goals-against average over 3.00 and a save percentage under .890. Neither club has confirmed its starter or lines. The total sits at 6.5 with the Over at -120, and 84% of the money is on the Over against 70% of the bets. We're backing one playmaker on each side to get on the scoresheet.

Senators vs. Sabres Predictions

• Pick #1: Drake Batherson Over 0.5 Assists (+165)
• Pick #2: Jack Quinn Over 0.5 Points (-160)

PICK #1: Drake Batherson Over 0.5 Assists (+165)

Batherson comes in on an eight-game point streak, six goals and seven assists, with a helper in 7 of his last 10. The +165 price implies just 37.7%.

He clears that over a longer stretch too: an assist in 8 of 16 games this season and in roughly two of every five last season. The role backs it up. He plays the right side of the second line with Shane Pinto and sits on Ottawa's top power play with Tim Stutzle, Dylan Cozens, Stephen Halliday and Jake Sanderson. Buffalo allows 3.50 goals a game, and Ellis has a 3.10 goals-against average and an .880 save percentage.

What beats this is Batherson finishing plays instead of setting them up, since a goal of his own doesn't cash it. Ottawa's lines are projected from the last posted combinations.

PICK #2: Jack Quinn Over 0.5 Points (-160)

Same game, other net. Quinn has 14 points in 14 games and a point in 9 of them, including 6 of his last 7. At -160 he needs to show up 61.5% of the time.

Last season alone wouldn't justify this price, because he had a point in only 37 of 82 games. His job is different now. He's playing 19:16 a night, up from 15:39, and he's on Buffalo's top power play with Thompson, Zach Benson, Noah Ostlund and Rasmus Dahlin. He already has six power-play points, more than half of last season's 11. Benson missed a practice for maintenance but is set to play, so that unit stays intact.

Tonight he gets Ersson, who is 1-3-1 with an .866 save percentage, or Johansson, who is 1-2-0 at .848. Fourteen games is a short sample, though, and he went three straight games without a point earlier this season. A big night from Ottawa's backup is how this loses.

21+ (18+ where permitted). Odds subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.