The KeyBank Center will be hosting an East-versus-West matchup as the expansion Vegas Golden Knights head across the country to face the Buffalo Sabres. It’s the final time that these two clubs will meet in the regular season. AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain will air the matchup, and the opening face-off is at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 10.
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Buffalo Sabres Odds
Vegas is 43-24 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 18.0 units this year. Through 67 regular season contests, 36 of its games have gone over the total, while 29 have gone under and just two have pushed. This 2017-18 Golden Knights team is 19-15 SU on the road.
Vegas has converted on 21.4 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 16th in the league, and it’s successfully killed off 80.8 percent of all penalties.
The Knights, as a collective unit, have been penalized just 3.3 times per game in the 2017-18 season, and 4.0 per game over its last five games. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays just 7.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .928 save percentage and 28.5 saves per game, Marc-Andre Fleury (23-12-3) has been the primary option in goal for Vegas this season. If it decides to rest him, however, Vegas could go with Malcolm Subban (12-4-1 record, .912 save percentage, 2.59 goals against average).
Jonathan Marchessault and David Perron will both be relied on to produce for the visiting Golden Knights. Marchessault (65 points) is up to 22 goals and 43 assists, and has recorded two or more points in 20 different games. Perron has 16 goals and 44 assists to his credit, and has registered a point in 41 games.
On the other side of the ice, Buffalo is 22-46 straight up (SU) and has lost 14.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 68 regular season matches, 33 of its games have gone under the total, while 31 have gone over and just four have pushed. This year, the team is 10-23 SU at home.
The Sabres have converted on just 17.0 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that places them in the bottom 10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 21st overall, and it’s successfully killed off 79.0 percent of all penalties.
Sabres players have been penalized 3.6 times per game in total this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five home outings. The teams had to kill penalties just 7.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Robin Lehner (27.0 saves per game) has been the top option in goal for the Sabres. Lehner has 14 wins, 35 losses, and eight overtime losses to his name and has maintained a mediocre 2.95 goals against average and a .910 save percentage this year.
The Sabres offense will be led by Jack Eichel (22 goals, 31 assists).
Vegas Golden Knights at Buffalo Sabres Betting Predictions
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Golden Knights, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Over Buffalo’s last ten outings, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 2-4 in those games).
- Penalties and power plays may prove to be critical in the outcome of this game. The Golden Knights are 16-10 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 32-15 in games where they serve fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total. The Sabres are 7-18 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 18-32 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
- Buffalo is 1-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Vegas is 2-2 in shootouts.
- Vegas might hold an advantage if this one comes down to the wire. The teams 17-12 in games decided by one goal, while Buffalo is only 10-21 in such games.
- Buffalo skaters have averaged 8.4 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 7.0 giveaways per game (the 5th-fewest in the NHL).
- Vegas skaters have averaged 5.6 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 9.3 giveaways per game (ranked 13th).
