Two clubs that split their head-to-head series two wins each last year, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Buffalo Sabres meet at the KeyBank Center. This divisional matchup will get underway at 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 13, and it can be watched live on NBC Sports Network.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Buffalo Sabres Odds
Tampa Bay enters the matchup as the obvious favorite with a -145 moneyline. The line for Buffalo sits at +125 and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-115 for the over, -105 for the under).
Tampa Bay is 12-5 straight up (SU) and has earned 2.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. Eight of its contests have gone over the total, while another eight have gone under and just one has pushed. The Bolts are 5-2 SU as the road team in 2018-19.
Tampa Bay has converted on 24.2 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, it has the fourth-strongest penalty kill in the league, and it’s successfully killed off 87.7 percent of its penalties.
Tampa Bay, as a collective unit, has been sent to the penalty box 4.1 times per game overall this season, 4.2 per game over its past five total, and 4.0 per game over its last five on the road. The team’s been forced to defend opponent power plays just 8.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 29.4 saves per game with a .927 save percentage, Andrei Vasilevskiy (9-4-1) has been the best option in goal for Tampa Bay this year. If head coach Jon Cooper chooses to rest him, however, Tampa Bay could turn to Louis Domingue (3-1), who has a .885 save percentage and 3.77 goals against average this year.
Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov will both lead the way for the visiting Lightning. Point (19 points) is up to nine goals and 10 assists, and has recorded two or more points in five different games. Kucherov has seven goals and 11 assists to his name (and has logged a point in 11 games).
Buffalo is 9-8 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 2.3 units this season. Through 17 regular season contests, 10 of its games have gone over the total, while six have gone under and just one has pushed. Thus far, the team is 5-3 SU as the home team.
Buffalo has converted on 18.0 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 13th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.5 percent of all penalties.
Buffalo players have been called for penalties 3.8 times per game this season, 3.4 per game over their past five contests total, and 3.4 per game over their last five at home. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 7.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Carter Hutton has stopped 27.1 shots per game as the top option in goal for Buffalo. Hutton has six wins, seven losses, and one OT loss to his credit and has maintained a .912 save percentage and 2.78 goals against average this season.
The Sabres will be led on offense by Jeff Skinner (12 goals, seven assists) and Jack Eichel (four goals, 15 assists).
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Buffalo Sabres Free Picks
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Notes
Betting Notes
For both of these teams, the over has hit in three of their last five matchups.
Tampa Bay has managed 31.6 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Buffalo is averaging 36.0 shots per game over its last five home outings.
The Sabres are 3-3 SU in games where they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Lightning are 8-1 SU when they spend more time in the box than the opposition.
Buffalo has averaged 3.8 takeaways per game over its last five home games, a slight drop from its season average of 4.5 takeaways per game (ranked 31st).
Tampa Bay has managed 5.6 takeaways per game over its last five road games, a drop-off from its season average of 7.7 takeaways per game (ranked 13th in the NHL).
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