The Buffalo Sabres, spearheaded by Jack Eichel and Victor Olofsson, are ready to take the ice against Matthew Tkachuk, Johnny Gaudreau, and the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome for a cross-continent tilt. The opening face-off takes place at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 5, and it is being televised live on Sportsnet West.
Buffalo Sabres at Calgary Flames Odds
The Flames (-160) are being labeled as the favorites over the Sabres (+140) and the Over/Under (O/U) has been placed at 6 goals (-120 to bet the over, +100 for the under).
Calgary is 13-16 straight up (SU) and has lost 6.0 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage is a noticeable slide from what the team managed during the 2018-19 season (50-32). Of its 29 games this season, eight have gone under the total, while eight have gone over and just two have pushed. Thus far, the team’s 7-5 SU at home.
The Flames have converted on 16.5 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked fifth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 85.4 percent of all penalties.
Averaging 29.1 saves per game with a .915 save percentage, David Rittich (12-11-4) has been the top option in goal for the Flames this year. If head coach Geoff Ward chooses to give him the night off, however, Calgary may go with Cam Talbot (1-6-6 record, .893 save percentage, 3.23 goals against average).
Over on the other bench, Buffalo is 13-15 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.7 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 28 regular season matches, 14 of its games have gone over the total, while another 14 have gone under the total and none have pushed. As a road team, the Sabres are 5-9 SU so far.
The Sabres have converted on 18.4 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 28th overall and it’s successfully killed off 74.7 percent of all penalties.
Linus Ullmark (2.86 goals against average and .917 save percentage) has been the main option in goal for Buffalo. Ullmark is averaging 31.5 saves per game and owns a 7-7-2 record.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Calgary Flames Free Picks
Free Prediction: SU Winner – Sabres, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- The Sabres are 1-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while the Flames are 3-0 in shootouts.
- The total has gone under in each of Calgary’s last five games.
- Over Calgary’s last ten outings, five of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-4 in those games).
- Buffalo skaters registered 19.1 hits per game last season, while the Flames posted 16.3 hits per contest.
