Squaring off for the final time this season, the Buffalo Sabres and the Dallas Stars meet at the American Airlines Center. The opening face-off is at 8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 16, and you will be able to watch this East-West matchup live on Fox Sports Southwest.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Dallas Stars Odds
Buffalo (+175) is entering this one as the underdog to Dallas (-210), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -125 for the under and +105 for the over.
Earning moneyline bettors 5.6 units, the Stars are 27-19 straight up (SU) overall in the 2019-20 season. That winning percentage, the second-best in the Central Division in this young season, is an improvement over the 43-39 record from the 2018-19 season campaign. Of the team’s 46 regular season matches, 30 have gone under the total, while 15 have gone over and just one has pushed. This season, the team is 15-8 SU at home.
Dallas has converted on 20.5 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated second overall, and it’s successfully killed off 84.4 percent of all penalties.
Dallas, as a collective unit, has been penalized 3.6 times per game overall this season, and 4.8 per game over its last five matchups at home. The team has been forced to stave off opposition power plays for just 7.6 minutes per game over its last five outings, in total.
Sporting a .930 save percentage and 27.7 saves per game, Ben Bishop (18-12-3) has been the principal option in goal for the Stars this year. If they choose to give him the night off, however, head coach Rick Bowness might go with Anton Khudobin (11-8-8 record, .932 save percentage, 2.13 goals against average).
Tyler Seguin and Alexander Radulov will both lead the offensive attack for the Stars. Seguin (35 points) has tallied 11 goals and 24 assists and has recorded multiple points nine times this year. Radulov has 13 goals and 15 assists to his name and has notched a point in 18 contests.
Buffalo has lost 2.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far and is currently 21-26 straight up (SU). 23 of its matches have gone over the total, while another 23 have gone under the total and just one has pushed. Buffalo’s 7-17 SU as the away team this season.
Buffalo has converted on 19.9 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 29th overall and it’s successfully defended 75.0 percent of all penalties.
Buffalo’s skaters have been penalized 3.5 times per game this season, 3.0 per game over their past five contests total, and 4.0 per game over their last five road outings. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 6.0 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Linus Ullmark (28.3 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for Buffalo. Ullmark owns a 15-15-3 record, and has registered a .911 save percentage and 2.78 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive counter for the visiting Sabres will be Jack Eichel, who has 28 goals and 33 assists this year.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Dallas Stars Betting Predictions
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Sabres, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Dallas is 2-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Buffalo is 1-1 in shootouts.
- The under has hit in each of Dallas’ last five outings.
- Buffalo has managed 26.6 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Dallas is averaging 32.8 shots per game over its last five at home.
- Seven of Buffalo’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 2-5 in those games.
- Buffalo skaters notched 19.1 hits per game last season, while the Stars forced 22.7 hits per contest.
