The Florida Panthers and Buffalo Sabres meet Saturday in NHL action at KeyBank Center. Here’s a Sabres vs Panthers Prediction. This article will include a Sabres vs Panthers Pick.
Florida Panthers Betting Preview
The Florida Panthers lost to the Devils and Red Wings, and they play the Bruins next. The Panthers have won 6 of their last 11 regular season games.
The Florida Panthers are averaging 2.5 goals per game and are scoring 25 percent of their power-play opportunities. Brad Marchand leads Florida with 3 goals, Gustav Forsling has 3 assists, and Anton Lundell has 16 shots on goal. Defensively, the Florida Panthers are allowing 2.83 goals per game and are killing 90 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Sergei Bobrovsky has allowed 7 goals on 90 shots faced, while Daniil Tarasov has given up 6 goals on 53 shots.
Buffalo Sabres Betting Preview
The Buffalo Sabres beat the Senators, lost to the Avalanche, and they play the Canadiens next. The Sabres have lost 7 of their last 9 games.
The Buffalo Sabres are averaging 2.5 goals per game and are scoring 21.4 percent of their power play opportunities. Jason Zucker leads Buffalo with 3 goals, Zach Benson has 4 assists, and Tage Thompson has 17 shots on goal. Defensively, the Buffalo Sabres are allowing 3.5 goals per game and are killing 100 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Alex Lyon has given up 2 goals on 135 shots faced.
Why the Buffalo Sabres will win
- The home team has won each of the Panthers’ last seven games.
- The Panthers have lost four of their last five games as road favorites following a road loss.
- The Sabres have covered the puck line in each of their last seven games as home underdogs against opponents on a losing streak.
- The Panthers have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last seven games as road favorites following a road loss.
- The home team has won the third period in each of the Panthers’ last seven games.
Why the Florida Panthers will win
- The Panthers have won seven of their last eight games against the Sabres.
- The Sabres have lost five of their last six day games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The Sabres have failed to cover the puck line in six of their last seven games.
- The road team has covered the puck line in eight of the last 10 games between the Panthers and Sabres.
- The Panthers have won the third period in each of their last eight road games against Eastern Conference opponents when leading after the second period.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the Sabres’ last eight day games at KeyBank Center against opponents on a losing streak have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Five of the Panthers’ last six road games against Atlantic Division opponents have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Five of the last six day games between teams from the same division have gone OVER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in each of the Sabres’ last 12 day games against opponents on a losing streak.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in each of the Panthers’ last eight games as road favorites.
Buffalo Sabres Player Prop Facts
- Rasmus Dahlin has recorded at least one assist in each of the Sabres’ last seven Saturday day games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- Rasmus Dahlin has recorded at least one point in each of his last eight Saturday home appearances.
- Joshua Norris has scored a goal in four of his last five appearances with his team as an underdog against Atlantic Division opponents.
- Rasmus Dahlin ranks 4th in the league for average time on ice (26:23) this season.
Florida Panthers Player Prop Facts
- Sam Bennett has scored a goal in four of his last five appearances against the Sabres.
- Anton Lundell has recorded at least one point in each of the Panthers’ last eight games as road favorites.
- Aleksander Barkov has recorded at least one assist in each of his last six road appearances against the Sabres.
- Brad Marchand is the only player in the league to have recorded a point in five or more consecutive appearances this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Buffalo Sabres rank 3rd in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (93.75%).
- The Buffalo Sabres rank T28th in the league for goals per game this season (2.50).
- The Florida Panthers rank T28th in the league for goals per game this season (2.50).
- The Florida Panthers rank T6th in the league in power play percentage this season (25.00%).
Sabres vs Panthers Prediction
The Panthers should be favored for obvious reasons, as they’re the better, more talented team, and they’ve won 8 of the last 10 games against the Sabres. However, the Panthers are having a rough week with their play and the injury report. It’s not easy to replace so many key players, and that’s what the Panthers have to do right now. Early start times also usually favor the home team, and the Sabres are coming off an offensive explosion against the Senators. I’ll take a shot with the Sabres and the plus money, as we’ve made money fading the Panthers this week.