Two teams that each played a day ago, the Buffalo Sabres and the Anaheim Ducks face off at the Honda Center in an East-West showdown. Fox Sports West will showcase the game, and the action gets going at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 21.
Buffalo Sabres at Anaheim Ducks Odds
Netting moneyline bettors 3.5 units, Anaheim is 5-3 straight up (SU) overall thus far. That win percentage, ranked fifth in the NHL so far this season, is right in line with what the team managed during last year’s regular season (44-38). Four of its eight outings have gone under the total, while two have gone over and just one has pushed. So far this year, the team’s 2-1 SU at home.
The Ducks have successfully connected on 25.0 percent of their power play opportunities in 2018-19. That’s a noticeable improvement from last year, when they were ranked 24th in the league by scoring on 17.3 percent of their extra-man opportunities. Their penalty kill has weakened a bit year-over-year as they’ve gone from successfully defending 82.3 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked fifth overall last season) to 81.5 percent this year.
The Ducks, as a collective unit, have been penalized 3.6 times per game this season. Last year, that number was at 4.3, the third-worst mark in the league. After serving an average of 10.2 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays for just 7.6 minutes per outing this year.
With a .949 save percentage and 34.9 saves per game, John Gibson (4-3-1) has been the top option in goal for Anaheim this season. Gibson did just play yesterday, however, so head coach Randy Carlyle could choose to give him a rest and turn to Ryan Miller instead (1-1-1 record, .946 save percentage, 1.51 goals against average).
The Ducks will continue to lean on the leadership from Hampus Lindholm and Jakob Silfverberg. Lindholm (seven points) is up to two goals and five assists while Silfverberg has three goals and four assists to his name so far in the early stages of the season.
On the other hand, Buffalo is 4-4 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through eight regular season outings, four of its games have gone under the total, while three have gone over and none have pushed. The Sabres are 2-2 SU as an away team this season.
The Sabres have scored on 13.3 percent of their power play chances this year after successfully converting on 19.1 percent of their extra-man opportunities in 2017-18 (a percentage that was just below league average). The team’s gone from killing off 77.9 percent of opponent power plays (ranked 22nd overall last season) to 69.2 percent this year.
Buffalo’s skaters have been penalized 4.3 times per game this season, a number that has climbed some from the 3.4 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 8.2 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team has had to stave off opponent power plays for 10.1 minutes per matchup this season.
Carter Hutton (30.5 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for Buffalo. Hutton has two wins and four losses to his credit, while registering a .906 save percentage and 3.27 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Sabres, the offense will be facilitated through Jack Eichel (three goals, five assists) and Jeff Skinner (four goals, two assists).
Buffalo Sabres vs. Anaheim Ducks Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Sabres, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Trends
After going 4-7 in games decided by a shootout last year, the Ducks are off to a 1-1 start in shootouts this season. Buffalo was 1-2 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
The under has hit in three of Anaheim’s last five outings.
Buffalo skaters recorded 21.5 hits per game last season, while the Ducks logged 24.2 hits per contest.
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