Two clubs that’ve underwhelmed this season, the Buffalo Sabres and the Vancouver Canucks take the ice at Rogers Arena in a cross-continent matchup. The opening face-off is at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 25, and you can catch the game live on Sportsnet Pacific.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Vancouver Canucks Odds
Vancouver (-150) is currently the favorite over Buffalo (+130), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -130 for the under and +110 for the over.
Losing 4.2 units for moneyline bettors, the Canucks are 19-29 straight up (SU) overall thus far. That early-season winning percentage isn’t too far off from to what the team posted during the 2016-17 season (30-52). Through 48 regular season contests, 27 of its games have gone over the total, while 21 have gone under and none have pushed. The team’s 8-15 SU at home this season.
Vancouver has connected on 22.4 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated 26th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 77.9 percent of all penalties.
Vancouver, as a collective unit, has been called for penalties 3.8 times per game overall this season, and 2.6 per game over its last five games. The team has had to kill penalties for just 6.2 minutes per game over its last 10 matchups, overall.
With a .909 save percentage and 26.4 saves per game, Jacob Markstrom (13-22-5) has been the primary goalkeeper for the Canucks this year. If they choose to give him the night off, however, the team could roll with Anders Nilsson (6-10-10 record, .906 save percentage, 3.39 goals against average).
Brock Boeser and Thomas Vanek will each lead the offensive attack for the Canucks. Boeser (43 points) has produced 24 goals and 19 assists and has recorded two or more points eight times this year. Vanek has 14 goals and 21 assists to his credit and has notched a point in 22 games.
Buffalo is 13-35 straight up (SU) and has lost 18.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. Through 48 regular season outings, 25 of its games have gone under the total, while 20 have gone over and just three have pushed. As the road team, Buffalo is 7-20 SU so far.
Buffalo has converted on just 15.6 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that’s ranked 26th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 24th overall and it’s successfully killed off 78.3 percent of all penalties.
Buffalo’s players have been called for penalties only 3.6 times per game this season, 3.2 per game over their past five match ups total, and 3.6 per game over their last five games as the visiting team. The team’s been forced to defend opponent power plays just 7.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Robin Lehner (26.5 saves per game) has been the main option in goal for Buffalo. Lehner owns a 10-26-6 record, while registering a .910 save percentage and 2.96 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Sabres will be Jack Eichel, who has 20 goals and 29 assists this season.
Buffalo Sabres at Vancouver Canucks Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Canucks, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
The over has hit in three of Vancouver’s last five outings.
The Sabres are 4-12 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 10-25 in games where they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 minutes, total.
Vancouver skaters have forced 8.2 takeaways per game over its last five home games, an improvement over its season average of 5.9 takeaways per game (ranked 27th in the league).
Buffalo has averaged 5.8 takeaways per game over its last five road games, its season average of 5.4 takeaways per game (ranked 30th).
