The Buffalo Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning meet Tuesday in NHL action at the Benchmark International Arena. Here’s a Lightning vs Sabres Prediction. This article will include a Lightning vs Sabres Pick.
Buffalo Sabres Betting Preview
The Buffalo Sabres beat the Panthers, lost to the Habs, and they play the Penguins next. The Sabres have won 8 of their last 11 games.
The Buffalo Sabres are averaging 3.4 goals per game and are scoring 19.9 percent of their power play opportunities. Tage Thompson leads Buffalo with 29 goals, Rasmus Dahlin has 35 assists, and Alex Tuch has 129 shots on goal. Defensively, the Buffalo Sabres are allowing 3.04 goals per game and are killing 82.6 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Alex Lyon has given up 64 goals on 746 shots faced, and Colten Ellis has allowed 34 goals on 332 shots.
Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Preview
The Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Bruins and Jets, and they play the Panthers next. The Lightning have won 17 of their last 19 games.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are averaging 3.49 goals per game and are scoring on 22 percent of their power play opportunities. Nikita Kucherov leads Tampa Bay with 28 goals, Darren Raddysh has 33 assists, and Jake Guentzel has 140 shots on goal. Defensively, the Tampa Bay Lightning are allowing 2.53 goals per game and are killing 84.2 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Andrei Vasilevskiy has allowed 74 goals on 900 shots faced, while Jonas Johansson has given up 53 goals on 483 shots.
Why the Tampa Bay Lightning will win
- The Lightning have won each of their last 11 games following a home win.
- The Sabres have lost each of their last eight games on the second leg of a back-to-back against the Lightning.
- Lightning has covered the puck line in each of its last six home matches when playing with a rest advantage against Sabres.
- The Sabres have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last six games on the second leg of a back-to-back against the Lightning.
- The Lightning have won the third period in each of their last six games when leading after the second period.
Why the Buffalo Sabres will win
- The Sabres have won each of their last eight games as underdogs following a road win.
- The Lightning have lost four of their last six games as home favorites against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The Sabres have covered the puck line in each of their last 10 games as underdogs.
- The Lightning have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last seven home games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The Sabres have won the third period in seven of their last eight games as underdogs following a road win.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the Lightning’s last seven night games against the Sabres following a home win have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Each of the Sabres’ last six games against opponents on a winning streak have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- Five of the last six games between teams from the same division have gone OVER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Sabres’ last eight games as underdogs against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1’ market has hit in seven of the last eight games between the Sabres and Lightning at Benchmark International Arena.
Tampa Bay Lightning Player Prop Facts
- Darren Raddysh has scored a goal in each of the Lightning’s last four games.
- Nikita Kucherov has recorded at least one assist in each of the Lightning’s last six home games against the Sabres.
Buffalo Sabres Player Prop Facts
- Tage Thompson has scored a goal in four of the Sabres’ last five road games.
- Rasmus Dahlin has recorded at least one assist in nine of the Sabres’ last 10 games against the Lightning.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Tampa Bay Lightning rank 2nd in the league for goals per game this season (3.49).
- The Tampa Bay Lightning rank 2nd in the league for goals against per game this season (2.53).
- The Buffalo Sabres rank T5th in the league for goals per game this season (3.40).
- The Buffalo Sabres rank 8th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (82.55%).
Lightning vs Sabres Prediction
I understand the Lightning are piping hot right now, and they’re at home with the rest advantage. However, the Sabres have won 7 of their last 10 games; they’re rolling offensively, and they just dominated the Panthers on the road. We’re getting nearly twice our money with a team that’s rolling. I don’t mind where the game is being played. I’ll take a shot with the Sabres in their current form at this price all day long. Give me the Sabres.