Two teams that split their head-to-head series 1-1 last year, the Buffalo Sabres and the Dallas Stars take the ice at the American Airlines Center in an East-West matchup. This one gets started at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, November 4 and it’ll air live on Fox Sports Southwest Plus.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Dallas Stars Odds
Dallas enters the matchup as the heavy favorite with a moneyline of -200. The line for Buffalo sits at +170, and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at an even 6 goals. The odds for betting that total sit at -120 for the under and +100 for the over.
The Stars are 7-6 straight up (SU) and have earned -0.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage is a complete turnaround from what the team managed during last year’s regular season (34-48). Among the team’s 13 games this season, seven have gone over the total, while six have gone under and none have pushed. The team is 4-1 SU at home this year.
Dallas currently has the best power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s scored on 30.8 percent of their extra-man opportunities this year. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated fourth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 86.7 percent of all penalties.
Dallas, as a collective unit, has been whistled for penalties 4.2 times per game this season, a number that is up a bit from last year’s 3.8 penalties per game the team surrendered. After serving an average of 9.9 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team has had to kill penalties for 10.1 minutes per outing this season.
Averaging 25.9 saves per game with a .913 save percentage, Ben Bishop (6-5) has been the best option in goal for the Stars this season. If they choose to give him a breather, however, the team may go with Kari Lehtonen (1-3-3 record, .896 save percentage, 2.90 goals against average).
Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin will each lead the offensive attack for the Stars. Benn (14 points) has tallied seven goals and seven assists and has recorded multiple points in four different games this year. Seguin has seven goals and six assists to his name and has recorded a point in nine contests.
Buffalo is 4-9 straight up (SU) and has earned -5 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 13 regular season contests, eight of its games have gone over the total, while four have gone under and just one has pushed. As the visiting team so far, Buffalo is 3-5 SU.
Buffalo has converted on just 13.6 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that places it in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 11th overall and it’s successfully killed off 83.3 percent of all penalties.
Buffalo’s skaters have been whistled for penalties only 3.5 times per game this season, a number that is pretty close to the 3.6 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 9.0 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s been forced to kill penalties for 7.2 minutes per matchup this year.
Robin Lehner (24.4 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Buffalo. Lehner has three wins, six losses, and one overtime loss to his credit, while registering a .905 save percentage and 2.94 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Sabres, the offense will be coordinated by Jack Eichel (four goals, nine assists) and Evander Kane (seven goals, six assists).
Buffalo Sabres vs. Dallas Stars Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Stars, O/U – Over
Betting Notes:
- The Sabres are 1-3 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 4-7 when they’re in the box for fewer than 10 penalty minutes, total.
- After posting a 2-6 record in games decided by a shootout last year, Buffalo is off to a 0-1 start in shootouts this season. Dallas went 1-2 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
