In their third head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Detroit Red Wings and the Buffalo Sabres clash at the KeyBank Center. NBC Sports Network will broadcast this divisional matchup, and the opening face-off takes place at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 6.
Detroit Red Wings vs. Buffalo Sabres Odds
With a -220 moneyline, Buffalo heads into the matchup as the obvious favorite. The line for Detroit sits at +180, and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals (-120 money on the under, +100 on the over). Odds Courtesy of DraftKings NJ’s #1 Online Sportsbook.
The Sabres are 23-30 straight up (SU) and have not been kind to moneyline bettors (to the tune of -4.8 units) thus far. That early-season winning percentage is fairly close to the 33-49 record the team managed during the 2018-19 season campaign. Of its 53 regular season outings, 26 have gone under the total, while 25 have gone over and just two have pushed. This year, the team’s 15-12 SU at home.
Buffalo has converted on 19.4 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 26th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 74.7 percent of all penalties.
Buffalo, as a collective unit, has been penalized 3.3 times per game overall this season, and 2.2 per game over its last five outings home outings. The team has had to defend opponent power plays for just 5.0 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, overall.
With a .914 save percentage and 28.5 saves per game, Linus Ullmark (16-17-3) has been the most dependable option in goal for the Sabres this year. If head coach Ralph Krueger chooses to rest him, however, the team may roll with Carter Hutton (7-14-14 record, .891 save percentage, 3.30 goals against average).
The Sabres will continue relying on offensive production from Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart. Eichel (66 points) has tallied 31 goals and 35 assists and has recorded two or more points in 17 different games this year. Reinhart has 19 goals and 25 assists to his credit and has recorded a point in 31 games.
In the other locker room, Detroit is 12-42 straight up (SU) and has lost 23.1 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 54 regular season outings, 25 of its games have gone under the total, while 23 have gone over and just six have pushed. As a road team so far, Detroit is 4-22 SU.
Detroit has converted on just 14.5 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that places it in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 31st overall and it’s successfully killed off 73.3 percent of all penalties.
Detroit’s skaters have been penalized 3.5 times per game in total this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five on the road. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 8.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jonathan Bernier (.908 save percentage and 2.89 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Detroit. Bernier is averaging 26.2 saves per game and has 10 wins, 20 losses, and two OT losses to his credit.
Dylan Larkin (13 goals, 24 assists) has been one of the top playmakers on offense for the visiting Red Wings.
Detroit Red Wings at Buffalo Sabres Free Picks
Free Prediction: SU Winner – Sabres, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
The total has gone under in three of Buffalo’s last five games.
The Red Wings are 6-13 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 8-30 when they’re in the box for fewer than 10 penalty minutes, total.
Buffalo is 1-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Detroit is 1-1 in shootouts.
Buffalo skaters have averaged 5.2 takeaways per game over its last five home games, right in line with its season average of 5.3 takeaways per game (ranked 31st in the league).
Detroit has scored just 1.3 goals per game (while allowing 4.1) over its nine-game losing skid.
Detroit has forced 6.2 takeaways per game over its last five road games, an improvement over its season average of 4.4 takeaways per game (ranked 32nd in the league).
