The Buffalo Sabres and Florida Panthers meet Friday in NHL action at the Amerant Bank Arena. Here’s a Panthers vs. Sabres prediction. This article will include a Panthers vs. Sabres pick.
Buffalo Sabres Betting Preview
The Buffalo Sabres beat the Devils and lost to the Penguins, and they play the Lightning next. The Sabres have won 7 of their last 10 games.
The Buffalo Sabres are averaging 3.34 goals per game and are scoring 19.8 percent of their power play opportunities. Tage Thompson leads Buffalo with 31 goals, Rasmus Dahlin has 37 assists, and Alex Tuch has 135 shots on goal. Defensively, the Buffalo Sabres are allowing 3.05 goals per game and are killing 82.7 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Alex Lyon has given up 68 goals on 778 shots faced, and Colten Ellis has allowed 38 goals on 367 shots.
Florida Panthers Betting Preview
The Florida Panthers beat the Maple Leafs and lost to the Lightning, and they play the Islanders next. The Panthers have lost 4 of their last 6 games.
The Florida Panthers are averaging 3.02 goals per game and are scoring on 19.2 percent of their power-play opportunities. Sam Reinhart leads Florida with 27 goals, Carter Verhaeghe has 26 assists, and Sam Bennett has 150 shots on goal. Defensively, the Florida Panthers are allowing 3.29 goals per game and are killing 82.4 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Sergei Bobrovsky has allowed 122 goals on 968 shots faced, while Daniil Tarasov has given up 52 goals on 516 shots.
Why the Florida Panthers will win
- The Panthers have won each of their last eight games against the Sabres following a win.
- The Sabres have lost five of their last six games at Amerant Bank Arena.
- The Sabres have failed to cover the puck line in four of their last five games as an away underdog when playing with a rest advantage.
- The Panthers have covered the puck line in four of their last five games on the second leg of a back-to-back against the Sabres.
- The Panthers have won the second period in each of their last seven games as home favorites against Atlantic Division opponents when trailing after the first period.
Why the Buffalo Sabres will win
- The Sabres have won eight of their last nine games as underdogs following a road win.
- The Panthers have lost each of their last four games as home favorites following a win.
- The Sabres have covered the puck line in each of their last 12 games as underdogs.
- The Panthers have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last seven games as a home favorite when playing with a rest disadvantage.
- The Panthers have lost the third period in six of their last seven games.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the Panthers’ last six home games against the Sabres following a win has gone UNDER the total goals line.
- Six of the Sabres’ last seven night games at Amerant Bank Arena have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- Five of the last six games between teams from the same division have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Sabres’ last nine games as underdogs against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in each of the Panthers’ last 13 games as home favorites.
Florida Panthers Player Prop Facts
- Brad Marchand has scored at least one goal in five of his last six appearances against Eastern Conference opponents at Amerant Bank Arena.
- Anton Lundell has recorded at least one assist in each of his last six appearances with the Panthers as home favorites against Atlantic Division opponents.
- A.J. Greer has scored two goals against the Sabres this season—equal to the most against any opponent.
Buffalo Sabres Player Prop Facts
- Tage Thompson has scored a goal in four of the Sabres’ last five road games.
- Tage Thompson has recorded at least one assist in seven of the Sabres’ last eight games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- Josh Doan has scored three goals against the Panthers this season—most against any opponent.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Florida Panthers rank 25th in the league for goals against per game this season (3.29).
- The Florida Panthers rank 8th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (82.35%).
- The Buffalo Sabres rank 6th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (82.69%).
- The Buffalo Sabres have recorded the equal-longest road winning streak (7 games) in the NHL this season.
Panthers vs Sabres Prediction
The Sabres have played well over the last month and blasted the Panthers for five goals earlier this month. You can talk yourself into going to Buffalo on the road. However, the Panthers need to stack points if they’re going to make the playoffs and last night was one of their better performances of the season. This is a veteran group that’s won back-to-back titles and I never expected them to go down quietly. It’s one game but it was a strong showing that could have a carryover effect. Cheap price and home ice, I’m double-dipping with the Panthers.