Squaring off for the third and final time this year, the New Jersey Devils and the Buffalo Sabres face off at the KeyBank Center in an Eastern Conference showdown. MSG Plus 2 will broadcast the game, which gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 30.
New Jersey Devils at Buffalo Sabres Odds
New Jersey is 24-24 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 2.3 units this year. 25 of its outings have gone over the total, while 22 have gone under and just one has pushed. The Devils are 11-13 SU as the road team in 2017-18.
New Jersey has converted on 20.0 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked fifth overall, and it has successfully killed off 83.6 percent of all penalties.
New Jersey, as a collective unit, has been penalized 3.9 times per game this season, 4.0 per game over its last five total, and 3.8 per game over its last five on the road. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays 8.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Sporting a .913 save percentage and 28.9 saves per game, Cory Schneider (18-17-6) has been the primary option in goal for New Jersey this year. If head coach John Hynes decides to rest him, however, the team could roll with Keith Kinkaid (7-7-2 record, .892 save percentage, 3.28 goals against average).
The visiting Devils have relied on Taylor Hall and Jesper Bratt this year. Hall has 48 points on 17 goals and 31 assists, and has recorded two or more points in 15 different games. Bratt has 12 goals and 18 assists to his name (and has logged a point in 21 games).
On the other side of the rink, Buffalo is 14-35 straight up (SU) and has lost 17.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. 26 of its matches have gone under the total, while 20 have gone over and just three have pushed. This year, the team is 6-15 SU as the home team.
Buffalo has converted on just 16.0 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s ranked 26th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 24th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 78.6 percent of all penalties.
Buffalo players have been sent to the penalty box only 3.6 times per game in total this season, 3.4 per game over their last five games total, and 3.6 per game over their last five at home. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 8.0 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Robin Lehner has denied 26.6 shots per game as the primary netminder in goal for Buffalo. Lehner has 11 wins, 26 losses, and six OT losses to his name and has maintained a .912 save percentage and 2.87 goals against average this year.
The Sabres will be led on offense by Jack Eichel (20 goals, 29 assists).
New Jersey Devils at Buffalo Sabres Betting Predictions
Prediction: SU Winner – Devils, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
The under has hit in three of Buffalo’s last five games.
Penalties and power plays could be extremely important in this game. The Devils are 7-11 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 10-18 in games where they’re in the box for fewer than 10 penalty minutes, total. The Sabres are 5-12 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 11-25 when total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
Two of New Jersey’s last ten games have ended in a shootout. The team is 0-2 in those games and 3-4 overall in shootouts this season.
Buffalo has managed 3.6 takeaways per game over its last five home games, a drop-off from its season average of 5.3 takeaways per game (ranked 31st in the league).
New Jersey has scored 3.0 goals per game overall this year, but is averaging 0.8 goals per match up over its last four games (0-4 SU over that span).
New Jersey has created 6.8 takeaways per game over its last five road games, a drop-off from its season average of 8.4 takeaways per game (ranked eighth overall).
