Buffalo Sabres vs Detroit Red Wings Prediction – 3/12/2025

The Buffalo Sabres are set to face the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. ET at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Both teams are looking to improve their standings in the Atlantic Division, with the Sabres currently at 25-32-5-1 and the Red Wings at 30-28-6-0. This matchup offers an intriguing opportunity for bettors, given the teams' recent performances and statistical profiles.

Buffalo Sabres vs Detroit Red Wings Game Preview

The Red Wings are on a six-game losing streak, with their most recent defeat being a 2-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators. Despite outshooting Ottawa 49-21, Detroit struggled to convert opportunities into goals. Forward Lucas Raymond, who had a goal disallowed at the buzzer, emphasized the need for better execution. Head coach Todd McLellan acknowledged the team's effort but noted the challenge posed by Ottawa's goaltender.

In contrast, the Sabres snapped their own six-game losing streak with a 3-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. Center Tage Thompson led the effort with two goals, including the game-winner in the third period. Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen contributed significantly with 32 saves, providing the stability needed for the win.

In their previous encounters this season, the Sabres and Red Wings have split victories. Buffalo secured a 5-3 win on October 26, while Detroit edged out a 6-5 shootout victory on December 9. Notably, Andrew Copp, who scored twice in the December game for Detroit, is out for the season due to pectoral surgery.

Betting Insights

• Against the Spread (ATS) Records:
  • Sabres: 32-31 overall; 13-18 at home; 19-13 away; 8-12 within the division.
  • Red Wings: 31-31 overall; 16-16 at home; 15-15 away; 12-6 within the division.
• Over/Under (O/U) Records:
  • Sabres: 30-31-2 overall; 14-15-2 at home; 16-16 away; 11-9 within the division.
  • Red Wings: 29-30-3 overall; 11-20-1 at home; 18-10-2 away; 11-6-1 within the division.
• Offensive Rankings:
  • Sabres: 11th in goals per game (3.18); 27th in power play percentage (17%).
  • Red Wings: 21st in goals per game (2.83); 2nd in power play percentage (29%).
• Defensive Rankings:
  • Sabres: 30th in goals against per game (3.49); 20th in penalty kill percentage (77%).
  • Red Wings: 23rd in goals against per game (3.21); 31st in penalty kill percentage (70%).

Key player statistics include:

• Buffalo Sabres:
  • Tage Thompson: 33 goals, 23 assists, 56 points.
  • Rasmus Dahlin: 11 goals, 40 assists, 51 points.
  • Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: 21-20-4 record, 2 shutouts, 3.11 GAA, .892 save percentage.
• Detroit Red Wings:
  • Lucas Raymond: 22 goals, 44 assists, 66 points.
  • Dylan Larkin: 27 goals, 29 assists, 56 points.
  • Cam Talbot: 17-15-3 record, 2 shutouts, 2.96 GAA, .901 save percentage.

Injury reports indicate that the Sabres may be without Jiri Kulich (illness) and John-Jason Peterka (lower body), while the Red Wings are missing Andrew Copp (pectoral) and Carter Mazur (upper body).

Buffalo Sabres vs Detroit Red Wings Prediction

Considering the Red Wings' current six-game losing streak and their recent offensive struggles, coupled with the Sabres' momentum from their recent win, Buffalo appears to have a slight edge. The Sabres' offensive capabilities, led by Thompson and Dahlin, could exploit Detroit's defensive vulnerabilities, particularly their league-worst penalty kill. However, Detroit's strong power play presents a challenge for Buffalo's penalty kill unit. Given these factors, a closely contested game is anticipated, with the Sabres potentially securing a narrow victory.

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