The KeyBank Center is the site for an intriguing showdown as the Buffalo Sabres take on the visiting Nashville Predators. The game gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 12, and fans at home can see this East-West matchup live on MSG Western New York.
Nashville Predators at Buffalo Sabres Odds
Nashville (-125) is tabbed as the favorite over Buffalo (+105) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals. If bettors want to play this matchup’s total, they’ll be looking at odds of -115 for the over and -105 for the under.
Losing exactly zero units for moneyline gamblers, the Sabres are 15-17 straight up (SU) overall in the 2019-20 season. That early-season winning percentage is a welcome improvement over the 33-49 record from last year’s regular season campaign. Through 32 regular season contests, 17 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while 15 have gone under and none have pushed. The team’s 9-6 SU at home this year.
Buffalo’s converted on 17.3 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 29th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 74.0 percent of all penalties.
As a team, Buffalo has been penalized 3.4 times per game overall this season, and 2.8 per game over its past five outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties for just 6.0 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, in total.
Averaging 30.6 saves per game with a .915 save percentage, Linus Ullmark (9-8-2) has been the primary option in goal for the Sabres this year. If they decide to give him the night off, however, it may roll with Carter Hutton (6-9-9 record, .901 save percentage, 3.05 goals against average).
Jack Eichel and Victor Olofsson will each be offensive focal points for the Sabres. Eichel (44 points) has tallied 20 goals and 24 assists and has recorded multiple points 11 times this year. Olofsson has 12 goals and 16 assists to his credit and has recorded at least one point in 21 contests.
Over on the other bench, Nashville is 14-15 straight up (SU) and has lost 9.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. Through 29 regular season contests, 17 of its games have gone over the total, while 12 have gone under the total and none have pushed. As the visiting team, Nashville is 5-6 SU so far.
Nashville has converted on just 15.5 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that places it in the bottom-five overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 23rd overall and it’s successfully killed off 77.1 percent of all opponent power plays.
Nashville’s players have been whistled for penalties 4.0 times per game this season, and 5.6 per game over their past five contests. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays an unhealthy 16.2 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Pekka Rinne (.897 save percentage and 2.92 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Nashville. Rinne is averaging 23.6 saves per game and has 10 wins, seven losses, and three OT losses to his credit.
Roman Josi (seven goals, 19 assists) has been one of the most vital facilitators on offense for the visiting Predators.
Nashville Predators at Buffalo Sabres Betting Predictions
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Sabres, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- For both of these teams, the over has hit in four of their past five games.
- Nashville has attempted 33.9 shots per contest overall this season (the second-most in the NHL), and 35.9 in its last 10 outings.
- The Predators are 2-4 SU in games where they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Sabres are 5-4 SU when they spend more time in the box than the opposition.
- Nashville is 1-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Buffalo is 1-1 in shootouts.
- Buffalo skaters have forced 3.2 takeaways per game over its last five home games, a drop-off from its season average of 5.1 takeaways per game (ranked 31st in the league).
- Nashville has created 9.8 takeaways per game over its last five road games, an improvement over its season average of 8.7 takeaways per game (ranked fifth).
