Facing each other for the final time this season, the Buffalo Sabres and the Nashville Predators take the ice at Bridgestone Arena. The game will get started at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 18, and fans at home will be able to view this East-West matchup live on MSG Western New York.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Nashville Predators Odds
Buffalo (+165) is currently the underdog to Nashville (-190), and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals. If you want to play the matchup’s total, you’ll be looking at odds of -115 for the over and -105 on the under.
Buffalo is 22-26 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. 23 of its outings have gone over the total, while another 23 have gone under and just two have pushed. The Sabres are 8-17 SU as the away team in 2019-20.
Buffalo has converted on 19.6 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked 27th overall, and it’s successfully killed off only 75.7 percent of all penalties.
Buffalo, as a collective unit, has been whistled for penalties 3.5 times per game this season, 3.0 per game over its past five games total, and 3.6 per game over its last five games as the visiting team. The team has had to kill penalties just 6.0 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Averaging 28.3 saves per game with a .913 save percentage, Linus Ullmark (16-15-3) has been the top option in goal for Buffalo this year. If head coach Ralph Krueger chooses to rest him, however, Buffalo might turn to Carter Hutton (6-11-4 record, .892 save percentage, 3.34 goals against average).
Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart will both be relied on to facilitate things for the visiting Sabres. Eichel has 62 points on 28 goals and 34 assists, and has recorded two or more points 17 times. Reinhart has 16 goals and 24 assists to his credit (and has notched a point in 27 games).
On the other bench, Nashville is 21-25 straight up (SU) and has lost 15.1 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 46 regular season outings, 28 of its games have gone over the total, while 17 have gone under and just one has pushed. This year, the team is 10-13 SU as the home team.
Nashville has converted on just 16.6 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s ranked 26th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 32nd overall, and it’s successfully killed off 73.3 percent of all penalties.
The Predators have been penalized 3.9 times per game this season, and 3.2 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 7.0 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Pekka Rinne has denied 23.9 shots per game as the primary option in goal for Nashville. Rinne has 15 wins, 13 losses, and three OT losses to his name and has registered a subpar .896 save percentage and 3.02 goals against average this season.
The Preds will be led on offense by Roman Josi (14 goals, 33 assists).
Buffalo Sabres vs. Nashville Predators Betting Predictions
Prediction: SU Winner – Predators, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Nashville is 1-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while Buffalo is 1-1 in shootouts.
- Buffalo has managed 27.6 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Nashville has been attempting 36.2 shots per game over its last five home outings.
- Eight of Nashville’s last ten outings have been decided by two or more goals. The club is 2-6 overall in those games.
- Buffalo skaters notched 19.1 hits per game last season, while the Predators posted 18.7 hits per contest.
