The Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes meet Saturday in NHL action at the Lenovo Center. Here’s a Hurricanes vs Sabres Prediction. This article will include a Hurricanes vs Sabres Pick.
Buffalo Sabres Betting Preview
The Buffalo Sabres lost to the Mammoth and Blues, and they play the Mammoth next. The Sabres have lost 5 of their last 6 games.
The Buffalo Sabres are averaging 2.64 goals per game and are scoring 17.8 percent of their power play opportunities. Alex Tuch leads Buffalo with 5 goals, Rasmus Dahlin has 8 assists, and Tage Thompson has 57 shots on goal. Defensively, the Buffalo Sabres are allowing 3.07 goals per game and are killing 91.3 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Alex Lyon has given up 28 goals on 329 shots faced, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has allowed 9 goals on 73 shots.
Carolina Hurricanes Betting Preview
The Carolina Hurricanes beat the Rangers and Wild, and they play the Maple Leafs next. The Hurricanes have won 3 of their last 4 games.
The Carolina Hurricanes are averaging 3.62 goals per game and are scoring 10.8 percent of their power play opportunities. Seth Jarvis leads Carolina with 8 goals, Sebastian Aho has 9 assists, and Jackson Blake has 35 shots on goal. Defensively, the Carolina Hurricanes are allowing 2.69 goals per game and are killing 82.8 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Frederik Andersen has given up 24 goals on 222 shots faced, while Brandon Bussi has allowed 9 goals on 107 shots.
Why the Carolina Hurricanes will win
- The Hurricanes have won each of their last 11 home games against the Sabres.
- The Sabres have lost each of their last 12 Saturday road games.
- The home team has covered the puck line in each of the last five games between the Sabres and Hurricanes.
- The Sabres have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last four games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- The Hurricanes have won the third period in 12 of their last 13 games as favorites against Eastern Conference opponents when leading after the second period.
Why the Buffalo Sabres will win
- The Hurricanes have lost each of their last seven games as favorites against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The Sabres have won three of their last four games as underdogs against the Hurricanes.
- The underdogs have covered the puck line in each of the Sabres’ last seven games.
- The Hurricanes have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last seven games as favorites against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The Hurricanes have lost the third period in each of their last seven home games against Atlantic Division opponents when trailing after the second period.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the Hurricanes’ last six home games have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Each of the Sabres’ last six games as underdogs against opponents on a winning streak have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- Nine of the last 10 Saturday night games between two teams from the Eastern Conference have gone OVER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Sabres’ last six road games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in seven of the Hurricanes’ last eight home games against the Sabres.
Carolina Hurricanes Player Prop Facts
- Sebastian Aho has scored at least one goal in four of the Hurricanes’ last five home games against the Sabres.
- Sebastian Aho has recorded at least one point in each of the Hurricanes’ last nine home games against the Sabres.
- Seth Jarvis has recorded at least one assist in five of the Hurricanes’ last six home games against Atlantic Division opponents.
Buffalo Sabres Player Prop Facts
- Jason Zucker has recorded at least one point in each of his last 10 Saturday night appearances.
- Rasmus Dahlin has recorded at least one assist in seven of the Sabres’ last eight road games.
- Alex Tuch has scored at least one goal in three of the Sabres’ last four road games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Carolina Hurricanes rank 32nd in the league in power play percentage this season (10.81%).
- The Carolina Hurricanes are one of three teams to rank in the top 10 for both goals scored and goals conceded per game this season.
- The Buffalo Sabres rank 1st in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (91.30%).
- The Buffalo Sabres rank 28th in the league for goals per game this season (2.64).
Hurricanes vs Sabres Prediction
The Sabres are a team I fade a lot, as they’ve let me down so much I want nothing to do with them. I’m not going to back the Sabres on the road here when they’ve scored one goal in their last two games. The Hurricanes have gotten back on track this week and the offense is rolling. Throw in home ice, and the Canes are dangerous in this spot. If the Sabres can’t get out of the mud offensively, this game will get ugly. Thick line, but give me the Hurricanes and PL for max betting value.