The Buffalo Sabres and Anaheim Ducks meet Sunday in NHL action at the Honda Center. Here’s a Ducks vs. Sabres Prediction. This article will include a Ducks vs. Sabres Pick.
Buffalo Sabres Betting Preview
The Buffalo Sabres beat the Sharks and Kings, and they play the Bruins next. The Sabres have won 12 of their last 13 games.
The Buffalo Sabres are averaging 3.46 goals per game and are scoring 20.7 percent of their power play opportunities. Tage Thompson leads Buffalo with 36 goals, Rasmus Dahlin has 48 assists, and Alex Tuch has 164 shots on goal. Defensively, the Buffalo Sabres are allowing 2.87 goals per game and are killing 83.1 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Alex Lyon has given up 79 goals on 922 shots faced, and Colten Ellis has allowed 38 goals on 367 shots.
Anaheim Ducks Betting Preview
The Anaheim Ducks beat the Mammoth and lost to the Flyers, and they play the Canucks next. The Ducks have lost 3 of their last 5 games.
The Anaheim Ducks are averaging 3.2 goals per game and are scoring 16.8 percent of their power play opportunities. Cutter Gauthier leads Anaheim with 36 goals, Jackson LaCombe has 39 assists and Beckett Sennecke has 166 shots on goal. Defensively, the Anaheim Ducks are allowing 3.43 goals per game and are killing 78.3 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Ville Husso has given up 42 goals on 411 shots faced, while Lukas Dostal has allowed 140 goals on 1,310 shots.
Why the Anaheim Ducks will win
- The Ducks have won six of their last seven games against opponents who are on the second leg of a back-to-back.
- The Ducks have covered the puck line in 17 of their last 19 home games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The Sabres have lost the second period in each of their last four games as road underdogs against Western Conference opponents when tied after the first period.
Why the Buffalo Sabres will win
- The Sabres have won each of their last 11 games against Pacific Division opponents.
- The Ducks have lost two of their last three games as favorites against opponents on a winning streak.
- The Sabres have covered the puck line in each of their last 16 games as underdogs.
- The Ducks have failed to cover the puck line in seven of their last eight games as favorites.
- The Sabres have won the first period in seven of their last eight night games against Pacific Division opponents.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the Ducks’ last six games against opponents on a winning streak have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- Each of the Sabres’ last five games has gone UNDER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2′ market has hit in each of the Ducks’ last 16 games as home favorites.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2′ market has hit in each of the Sabres’ last seven road games against the Ducks.
Anaheim Ducks Player Prop Facts
- Cutter Gauthier has scored at least one goal in each of the Ducks’ last five games against opponents who are playing on the second leg of a back-to-back.
- Jackson LaCombe has recorded an assist in seven of the Ducks’ last eight home games against opponents who are playing on the second leg of a back-to-back.
Buffalo Sabres Player Prop Facts
- Tage Thompson has scored a goal in six of the Sabres’ last seven road games against Pacific Division opponents.
- Rasmus Dahlin has recorded at least one assist in each of the Sabres’ last seven games on the second leg of a back-to-back.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Anaheim Ducks rank 29th in the league for goals against per game this season (3.43).
- The Anaheim Ducks rank 27th in the league in power play percentage this season (16.82%).
- The Buffalo Sabres rank 3rd in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (83.07%).
- The Buffalo Sabres rank 5th in the league for goals per game this season (3.46).
Ducks vs Sabres Prediction
The Ducks have been great on their home ice and it’s fair to like them with the rest advantage. The problem is the Sabres have been out of their minds over the last couple of months, playing elite-level hockey at both ends of the ice. Even on the end of a back-to-back, the Sabres are simply not a team I’m eager to bet against. The Sabres are looking more and more like a team that could lift the cup and it’s always a steal to get them with a cheap price. I have to ride the hot hand that is the Sabres.