The KeyBank Center is playing host an Atlantic Division tilt as the Detroit Red Wings travel to Buffalo to meet the Sabres. It’s the fourth and last time that these two clubs will go at it in the regular season. The match gets going at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 29, and it can be watched live on Fox Sports Detroit Plus.
Detroit Red Wings vs. Buffalo Sabres Odds
Buffalo (+105) is currently the underdog to Buffalo (-125), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-120 money on the under, +100 on the over).
Detroit is 28-49 straight up (SU) and has lost 17.0 units for moneyline bettors this year. 43 of its outings have gone under the total, while 32 have gone over and just two have pushed. The Wings are 13-26 SU on the road in 2017-18.
Detroit has converted on just 17.4 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s ranked 23rd in the NHL. Additionally, its penalty kill is ranked 23rd overall, and it’s successfully killed off 78.1 percent of its penalties.
Detroit, as a collective unit, has been penalized 3.7 times per game during the 2017-18 season, and 5.2 per game over its last five on the road. The team’s been forced to kill penalties 16.0 minutes per contest over their last five road games.
Averaging 26.6 saves per game with a .909 save percentage, Jimmy Howard (20-37-8) has been the best option in goal for Detroit this year. If Detroit chooses to rest him, however, the team might turn to Petr Mrazek (8-14-4), who has a .910 save percentage and 2.89 goals against average this year.
The visiting Red Wings will be led by Dylan Larkin and Henrik Zetterberg. Larkin has 56 points via 12 goals and 44 assists, and has recorded multiple points 10 times. Zetterberg has 10 goals and 39 assists to his name, and has registered a point in 38 games.
On the other side of the ice, Buffalo is 24-52 straight up (SU) and has lost 16.8 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 76 regular season matches, 38 of its games have gone under the total, while 33 have gone over and just five have pushed. This year, the team’s 11-28 SU as the home team.
Buffalo has converted on just 17.1 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that places it in the bottom 10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 25th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 77.8 percent of all opponent power plays.
Buffalo skaters have been penalized 3.5 times per game in total this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five home outings. The team has had to kill penalties just 5.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Robin Lehner (26.9 saves per game) has been the top netminder in goal for Buffalo. Lehner has 14 wins, 38 losses, and nine OT losses to his credit and has recorded a subpar .909 save percentage and 2.99 goals against average this year.
The home team will be led on offense by Jack Eichel (24 goals, 32 assists).
Detroit Red Wings vs. Buffalo Sabres Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Sabres, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Buffalo is 1-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Detroit is 5-1 in shootouts.
The total has gone under in four of Buffalo’s last five outings.
Six of Detroit’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 1-5 in those games.
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