In their first head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Buffalo Sabres and the Winnipeg Jets clash at Bell MTS Place in an East-West showdown. The matchup gets going at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, January 5, and you’ll be able to catch the game live on MSG Western New York.
Buffalo Sabres at Winnipeg Jets Odds
Winnipeg is 23-18 straight up (SU) and has earned 4.3 units for moneyline bettors this season. That winning percentage, the third-best in the Central Division in this young season, is a welcome improvement over the 40-42 record from the 2016-17 season campaign. Of its 41 games this season, 21 have gone over the total, while 18 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team’s 14-4 SU at home this season.
The Jets have connected on 24.3 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that’s good enough for fourth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 17th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 81.0 percent of all penalties.
The Jets, as a collective unit, have been penalized 4.0 times per game overall this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five games home outings. The team’s had to stave off opposition power plays for just 6.4 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, in total.
Averaging 27.4 saves per game with a .922 save percentage, Connor Hellebuyck (21-12-6) has been the best goalkeeper for the Jets this year. If the Jets, however, choose to rest him, head coach Paul Maurice might turn to Steve Mason (2-8-8 record, .899 save percentage, 3.47 goals against average).
Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele will both lead the offensive attack for the Jets. Wheeler (47 points) is up to 13 goals and 34 assists and has recorded two or more points on 12 separate occasions this year. Scheifele has 15 goals and 23 assists to his credit and has recorded at least one point in 21 games.
On the other side of the rink, Buffalo is 10-30 straight up (SU) and has lost 18.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. Through 40 regular season contests, 21 of its games have gone under the total, while 15 have gone over and just three have pushed. The Sabres are 5-17 SU as the visiting team this season.
The Sabres have converted on just 12.4 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that places them in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 17th overall and it’s successfully killed off 81.1 percent of all penalties.
Buffalo’s skaters have been penalized only 3.6 times per game this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five road outings. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 8.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Robin Lehner (27.0 saves per game) has been the main option in goal for Buffalo. Lehner has nine wins, 22 losses, and six OT losses to his credit, and has registered a .911 save percentage and 2.90 goals against average this year.
Evander Kane (16 goals, 19 assists) and Jack Eichel (15 goals, 20 assists) have been standout playmakers for Buffalo and will lead the offensive attack for the visiting Sabres.
Buffalo Sabres at Winnipeg Jets Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Jets, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
Four of Buffalo’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 1-3 in those games.
Power-play chances could have a key role in this game. The Sabres are 3-9 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 8-22 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Jets are 12-6 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 14-10 when their penalty minutes are in the single digits.
The over has hit in three of Buffalo’s last five outings.
Winnipeg skaters have averaged 11.0 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 9.8 giveaways per game (ranked 17th in the league).
Buffalo has averaged 5.6 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 7.0 giveaways per game (the fifth-fewest in the league).
Buffalo skaters have accounted for the league’s seventh-most hits per game (23.7).
