The Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks meet Thursday in NHL action at the Rogers Arena. Here’s a Canucks vs Sabres Prediction. This article will include a Canucks vs Sabres Pick.
Buffalo Sabres Betting Preview
The Buffalo Sabres lost to the Flames, beat the Oilers, and they play the Kraken next. The Sabres have split their last 12 games.
The Buffalo Sabres are averaging 3 goals per game and are scoring 20 percent of their power play opportunities. Tage Thompson leads Buffalo with 14 goals, Rasmus Dahlin has 21 assists, and Josh Doan has 80 shots on goal. Defensively, the Buffalo Sabres are allowing 3.53 goals per game and are killing 86.2 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Alex Lyon has given up 42 goals on 416 shots faced, and Colten Ellis has allowed 24 goals on 228 shots.
Vancouver Canucks Betting Preview
The Vancouver Canucks lost to the Red Wings, beat the Wild, and they play the Devils next. The Canucks have lost 14 of their last 14 games.
The Vancouver Canucks are averaging 2.77 goals per game and are scoring 18.8 percent of their power play opportunities. Kiefer Sherwood leads Vancouver with 12 goals, Quinn Hughes has 20 assists and Jake DeBrusk has 85 shots on goal. Defensively, the Vancouver Canucks are allowing 3.6 goals per game and are killing 72 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Thatcher Demko has given up 26 goals on 268 shots faced, while Kevin Lankinen has allowed 57 goals on 467 shots.
Why the Vancouver Canucks will win
- The Canucks have won seven of their last eight games as home underdogs following a home loss.
- The Sabres have lost four of their last five games as road favorites.
- The underdogs have covered the puck line in each of the last 16 games between the Sabres and Canucks.
- The Sabres have failed to cover the puck line in eight of their last nine games as favorites against Pacific Division opponents.
- The Canucks have won the second period in each of their last seven games against the Sabres.
Why the Buffalo Sabres will win
- The Canucks have lost seven of their last eight home games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The Sabres have won each of their last five games following a road win.
- The Sabres have covered the puck line in seven of their last eight games against the Canucks.
- The Canucks have failed to cover the puck line in seven of their last eight home games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The Canucks have lost the third period in each of their last eight games as home underdogs when trailing after the second period.
Total Goals Facts
- Nine of the Canucks’ last 10 games as underdogs following a home loss have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Each of the Sabres’ last four night games at Rogers Arena have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Sabres’ last six games as road favorites.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in four of the Canucks’ last five games following a home loss.
Vancouver Canucks Player Prop Facts
- Elias Pettersson has scored at least one goal in three of his last four appearances against Atlantic Division opponents.
- Elias Pettersson has recorded at least one point in seven of his last eight appearances against Atlantic Division opponents.
- Quinn Hughes has recorded at least one assist in seven of his last eight appearances against Atlantic Division opponents.
Buffalo Sabres Player Prop Facts
- Tage Thompson has scored a goal in each of the Sabres’ last four games against Pacific Division opponents.
- Tage Thompson has recorded at least one point in each of the Sabres’ last seven games against Pacific Division opponents.
- Joshua Norris has recorded at least one assist in each of his last four appearances.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Vancouver Canucks rank 32nd in the league for goals against per game this season (3.60).
- The Vancouver Canucks rank 30th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (72.00%).
- The Buffalo Sabres rank 2nd in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (86.21%).
- The Buffalo Sabres rank 29th in the league for goals against per game this season (3.53).
Canucks vs Sabres Prediction
The Sabres are playing the better hockey at the moment, and that includes a big road win over the Oilers. However, as I’ve mentioned many times previously, the Sabres are one of those teams for me that lets me down the second I start to believe. This will also be a fifth straight road game for the Sabres, and they have just three road wins. The Canucks haven’t had much success on their home ice, and their offense is hiding out with Waldo at the moment. Still, the prices aren’t doing much for me in terms of picking a bad road team. If getting a soft price both ways, I’m going to give the edge to the home team and side with the Canucks.