Two clubs that are facing each other for the final time this year, the Buffalo Sabres and the Nashville Predators face off at Bridgestone Arena in an East-West showdown. Fox Sports Tennesse will broadcast the action, which gets underway at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 31.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Nashville Predators Odds
Nashville (-330) is currently favored over Buffalo (+270) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-115 for the over, -105 for the under).
Earning moneyline bettors 15.5 units, Nashville is 50-27 straight up (SU) overall this year. That win percentage, ranked second in the NHL so far this season, is a solid improvement compared to what the team managed during last year’s regular season (41-41). Of its 77 games this season, 38 have gone over the total, while an additional 38 have gone under and just one has pushed. The team is 27-12 SU at home this year.
The Predators have converted on 19.9 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked sixth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 82.7 percent of all penalties.
As a team, the Predators have been penalized 4.5 times per game overall this season, 4.8 per game over their past five games total, and 4.8 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to stave off opposition power plays for 9.6 minutes per contest over their last five home games.
With a .929 save percentage and 29.1 saves per game, Pekka Rinne (41-15-4) has been the primary goalkeeper for the Preds this season. If Nashville decides to give him the night off, however, head coach Peter Laviolette could go with Juuse Saros (9-13-13 record, .925 save percentage, 2.46 goals against average).
Viktor Arvidsson and Filip Forsberg will both spearhead the attack for the Predators. Arvidsson (60 points) has put up 29 goals and 31 assists and has recorded multiple points 17 times this year. Forsberg has 21 goals and 37 assists to his credit and has recorded at least one point in 39 games.
On the other bench, Buffalo is 24-53 straight up (SU) and has lost 17.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 77 regular season contests, 38 of its games have gone under the total, while 34 have gone over and just five have pushed. The Sabres are 13-24 SU as a road team this season.
The Sabres have converted on just 17.2 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that places them in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 22nd overall and it’s successfully killed off 78.3 percent of all opponent power plays.
Buffalo’s players have been called for penalties 3.5 times per game in total this season, and 2.8 per game over their past ten contests. The team has had to defend opponent power plays just 6.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Robin Lehner (26.7 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for Buffalo. Lehner owns a 14-39-9 record, while registering a .908 save percentage and 3.01 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive counter for the visiting Sabres will be Jack Eichel (25 goals, 32 assists) and Ryan O’Reilly (21 goals, 33 assists).
Buffalo Sabres at Nashville Predators Betting Picks
Free Pick: SU Winner – Predators, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Six of Nashville’s last ten outings have been decided by two or more goals. The team is 4-2 overall in those games.
Power-play chances could play a key role tonight. The Sabres are 8-21 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 20-36 in games where they serve fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total. The Predators are 18-6 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 25-14 in games where their penalty minutes are in the single digits.
Three of Nashville’s last ten games have ended in a shootout. The team is 1-2 in those games and 6-7 overall in shootouts this season.
Nashville might hold an advantage if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s 23-14 in games decided by one goal, while Buffalo is just 11-22 in such games.
The total has gone over in three of Nashville’s last five games.
Nashville skaters have averaged 16.2 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 9.8 giveaways per game (ranked 18th in the league).
Buffalo is ranked seventh this season with 7.4 giveaways per game. That figure has trended upward, as it’s averaged 10.1 giveaways over its last 10 games and 11.0 giveaways over its last five.
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