Two clubs that many consider to be the two weakest in the NHL, the Arizona Coyotes and the Buffalo Sabres collide at the KeyBank Center in a cross-country tilt. The match gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 21, and you’ll be able to view the game live on Fox Sports Arizona.
Arizona Coyotes at Buffalo Sabres Odds
Buffalo (-130) is currently favored over Arizona (+110), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-125 money on the under, +105 on the over).
Arizona is 24-48 straight up (SU) and has lost 17.6 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 38 of its contests have gone under the total, while 33 have gone over and just one has pushed. As the road team in 2017-18, the Coyotes are 9-24 SU.
Arizona has converted on just 15.7 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s ranked 29th in the NHL. Its penalty kill is ranked 17th overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 80.1 percent of its penalties.
Arizona, as a collective unit, has been sent to the penalty box just 3.3 times per game overall this season, and 4.0 per game over its last five road outings. The team has had to kill penalties just 7.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.
With a .925 save percentage and 27.2 saves per game, Antti Raanta (17-24-6) has been the primary option in goal for Arizona this year. If head coach Rick Tocchet chooses to rest him, however, Arizona could roll with Darcy Kuemper (12-13-4), who has a .925 save percentage and 2.26 goals against average this year.
Clayton Keller and Derek Stepan will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Coyotes. Keller has 53 points on 20 goals and 33 assists, and has recorded two or more points in 10 different games. Stepan has 12 goals and 35 assists to his nameand has notched a point in 37 games.
On the other side of the rink, Buffalo is 23-49 straight up (SU) and has lost 16.1 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 72 regular season outings, 35 of its games have gone under the total, while 33 have gone over and just four have pushed. It’s 11-26 SU at home this year.
Buffalo has converted on just 17.4 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that places it in the bottom 10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 21st overall, and it’s successfully killed off 79.2 percent of all opponent power plays.
Buffalo skaters have been called for penalties 3.5 times per game in total this season, and 2.2 per game over their last five at home. The team’s been forced to defend opponent power plays just 8.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Robin Lehner (27.3 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for Buffalo. Lehner has 14 wins, 37 losses, and nine OT losses to his name and has maintained a .911 save percentage and 2.93 goals against average this year.
Jack Eichel (22 goals, 32 assists) will pace the attack for the Sabres.
Arizona Coyotes vs. Buffalo Sabres Betting Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Coyotes, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
Buffalo is 1-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Arizona is 2-5 in shootouts.
The over has hit in three of Buffalo’s last five games.
56.5 percent of Buffalo’s wins have come by two or more goals (the team is 13-27 overall in such games) while 37.5 percent of Arizona’s wins have come by two goals or more (9-28 overall in games decided by at least two goals).
Arizona skaters have accounted for the league’s fourth-most hits per game (24.4).
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