The KeyBank Center is playing host an East-West showdown as the Nashville Predators travel to Buffalo to face the Sabres. The opening face-off is at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, March 19, and fans at home are able to watch it live on Fox Sports Tennesse.
Nashville Predators at Buffalo Sabres Odds
Nashville (+195) is playing the role of underdog to Nashville (-235) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-130 to bet the over, +110 for the under).
Nashville is 47-24 straight up (SU) and has earned 16.2 units for moneyline bettors this season. 35 of its games have gone over the total, while another 35 have gone under and just one has pushed. As the road team this season, the Preds are 22-13 SU.
Nashville has converted on 20.9 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, it has the eighth-strongest penalty kill in the league, and the team’s successfully killed off 82.8 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Preds have been sent to the penalty box 4.5 times per game this season, 5.0 per game over its last five games total, and 4.2 per game over its last five games as the visiting team. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays 10.6 minutes per contest over their last five road games.
Boasting a .929 save percentage and 29.3 saves per game, Pekka Rinne (39-13-4) has been the primary option in goal for Nashville this season. If head coach Peter Laviolette decides to rest him, however, Nashville could turn to Juuse Saros (8-12-6 record, .925 save percentage, 2.37 goals against average).
The visiting Predators have relied heavily on Viktor Arvidsson and Filip Forsberg this year. Arvidsson (53 points) has tallied 26 goals and 27 assists, and has recorded multiple points 15 times. Forsberg has 20 goals and 31 assists to his credit (and has notched at least one point in 35 games).
On the other bench, Buffalo is 23-48 straight up (SU) and has lost 15.2 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 34 of its matches have gone under the total, while 33 have gone over and just four have pushed. It’s 11-25 SU at home this season.
The Sabres have converted on just 17.5 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 is ranked 21st overall, and it’s successfully killed off 79.2 percent of all opponent power plays.
Buffalo skaters have been whistled for penalties 3.5 times per game in total this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five at home. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays just 8.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Robin Lehner (27.3 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for the Sabres. Lehner has 14 wins, 37 losses, and nine overtime losses to his name and has recorded a mediocre 2.93 goals against average and a .911 save percentage this year.
The Sabres will be led on offense by Jack Eichel (22 goals, 32 assists).
Nashville Predators at Buffalo Sabres Betting Predictions
NHL Pick: SU Winner – Predators, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Buffalo is 1-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Nashville is 5-6 in shootouts.
The total has gone over in four of Buffalo’s last five outings.
Over Nashville’s last ten games, five of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-0 in those games).
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