Two teams that split their season series 1-1 last year, the Colorado Avalanche and the Buffalo Sabres collide at the KeyBank Center for an East-West tilt. The game will get going at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 11 and it can be viewed live on Altitude Sports & Entertainment.
Colorado Avalanche at Buffalo Sabres Odds
Buffalo is 2-1 straight up (SU) and has netted 1.3 units for moneyline bettors this season. That winning percentage, ranked third in the Atlantic Division so far this season, is a huge turnaround from what the team managed during the 2017-18 season (25-57). The team is 2-1 SU at home so far this year.
The Sabres have successfully converted on 37.5 percent of their power play opportunities in 2018-19. That’s a big improvement from last season, when they were ranked 20th in the league by scoring on 19.1 percent of their extra-man chances. Their penalty kill has improved nicely year-over-year as they’ve gone from successfully defending 77.9 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked 22nd overall last season) to 83.3 percent this year.
The Sabres, as a collective unit, have been penalized 3.3 times per game this season, a number that is pretty close to last year’s 3.4 penalties per game they gave up. After serving an average of 8.2 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has had to kill penalties for 7.7 minutes per outing this year.
Averaging 33.3 saves per game with a .943 save percentage, Carter Hutton (two wins, one loss) has been the principal goalkeeper for the Sabres this year.
Jack Eichel and Conor Sheary will each spearhead the attack for the Sabres. Eichel (four points) has put up three goals and one assist while Sheary has two goals and one to his name so far in the early stages of the season.
Colorado is 2-1 straight up (SU) and has netted 1.0 unit for moneyline bettors this year. A total of two of its outings has gone over the total, while one has gone under the total and none have pushed.
The Avs have scored on 27.3 percent of their power play chances this year after converting on 21.3 percent of their extra-man opportunities last season (when the team ranked 10th league-wide in that category). The team has gone from killing off 83.3 percent of opponent power plays (ranked third overall last season) to 91.7 percent in 2018-19.
Colorado’s skaters have been penalized 5.3 times per game this season. Last season, that number was at 4.0, which was the eighth-highest mark in the league. After serving an average of 9.2 penalty minutes per game a year ago (10th-most in the league), the team’s been forced to kill penalties for 10.7 minutes per outing this season.
The undefeated Semyon Varlamov (1.50 goals against average and .948 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Colorado. Varlamov is averaging 27.5 saves per game and owns a 2-0 record.
Alexander Kerfoot (zero goals, four assists) has been one of the most vital offensive playmakers for the visiting Avalanche.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Buffalo Sabres Betting Predictions
Prediction: SU Winner – Avalanche, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Notes
Colorado skaters recorded 20.4 hits per game last season, while the Sabres logged 21.5 hits per contest.
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