Sabres vs Lightning Prediction
The Lightning don’t string together losses often, and they’re just the more trustworthy team given their history. The Sabres have a reputation for letting you down the second you start to believe they can do something. With that said, all four of the Lightning’s losses this season have come on the road. The Sabres have shown a balanced attack, and while they have five home losses, they compete overall and have found their offensive form over the last week or so. T
There should also be some confidence here for the Sabres after winning the last three games against the Lightning and lighting them up offensively in those games. Kind of a statement game for the Sabres, a team that entered the season as a contender but has been hit or miss up to this point. We’re getting plus money with the Sabres at home. I’ll take a shot.
Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Preview
The Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Wild, lost to the Jets, and they play the Blue Jackets next. The Lightning have won 4 of their last 6 games. The Lightning are 3-4-2 SU on the road, 8-0-0 SU at home, and 8-9 ATS on the season.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are averaging 3.71 goals per game and are scoring on 19.4 percent of their power-play opportunities. Jake Guentzel leads the Lightning with 10 goals, 8 assists, and 47 shots. Brandon Hagel has 9 goals, 9 assists, and 65 shots. Pontus Holmberg has 6 goals, 7 assists, and 31 shots. Defensively, the Tampa Bay Lightning are allowing 3.06 goals per game and are killing 72.9 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Andrei Vasilevskiy has allowed 37 goals on 317 shots faced, and Dennis Hildeby has allowed 12 goals on 100 shots.
Buffalo Sabres Betting Preview
The Buffalo Sabres beat the Blue Jackets, lost to the Golden Knights, and they play the Blackhawks next. The Sabres have won 4 of their last 6 games. The Sabres are 4-1-3 SU on the road, 4-5-0 SU at home, and 7-10 ATS on the season.
The Buffalo Sabres are averaging 3.1 goals per game and are scoring 5.1 percent of their power play opportunities. Tage Thompson leads the Sabres with 10 goals, 9 assists, and 70 shots. Jack Quinn has 9 goals, 7 assists, and 46 shots. Noah Ostlund had 4 goals, 6 assists, and 43 shots. Defensively, the Buffalo Sabres are allowing 3.2 goals per game and are killing 69.6 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has allowed 35 goals on 287 shots faced, and Colten Ellis has given up 20 goals on 173 shots.
Sabres vs Lightning Injury Report
The Sabres are without Konsta Helenius with an upper body injury. Justin Danforth is out with an upper-body injury. Alex Lyon is out with an upper-body injury. Matt Grzelcyk is out with a lower-body injury.
The Lightning will be without Brayden Point with a lower-body injury.
Why the Buffalo Sabres will win
- The Sabres have won each of their last eight games as home underdogs against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Lightning have lost each of their last four night games at KeyBank Center.
- The Lightning have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last eight road games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The Sabres have covered the puck line in each of their last eight games as home underdogs against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Sabres have won the third period in each of their last six games as underdogs against Eastern Conference opponents.
Why the Tampa Bay Lightning will win
- The Lightning have won each of their last six games as favorites following a road loss.
- The Sabres have lost four of their last five home games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The Sabres have failed to cover the puck line in eight of their last 10 night games at KeyBank Center.
- The Lightning have covered the puck line in four of their last five games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Sabres have lost the second period in seven of their last eight games as underdogs.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the Lightning’s last six road games have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Five of the Sabres’ last six night games at KeyBank Center have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- Four of the last five 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 eight games as underdogs against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1’ market has hit in 11 of the Lightning’s last 12 night games.
Buffalo Sabres Player Prop Facts
- Jason Zucker has scored at least one goal in four of his last five home appearances against the Lightning.
- Zach Benson has recorded at least one assist in each of the Sabres’ last eight games as home underdogs against Eastern Conference opponents.
- Jason Zucker has scored 16 career goals against the Lightning- the most against any opponent (including playoffs).
Tampa Bay Lightning Player Prop Facts
- Brandon Hagel has scored at least one goal in five of his last six road appearances against Atlantic Division opponents.
- Charle-Edouard D’Astous has recorded at least one assist in five of the Lightning’s last six road games.
- Nikita Kucherov ranks T3rd in the league for multi-assist games (6) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Buffalo Sabres rank 30th in the league in power play percentage this season (14.29%).
- The Buffalo Sabres rank 26th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (71.19%).
- The Tampa Bay Lightning rank 6th in the league for goals per game this season (3.71).
- The Tampa Bay Lightning rank 25th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (72.92%).