Two clubs that split their head-to-head series (one game apiece) a year ago, the Calgary Flames and the Buffalo Sabres collide at the KeyBank Center in an East-West showdown. The matchup gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, October 30, and you can see it live on Sportsnet Flames.
Calgary Flames at Buffalo Sabres Odds
Calgary (-105) is playing the role of underdog to Buffalo (-115) and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).
Earning moneyline bettors 2.6 units, the Sabres are 6-5 straight up (SU) overall in the 2018-19 season. That early-season winning percentage is a surprising improvement over the 25-57 record from last year’s regular season campaign. Of its 11 games this season, seven have gone over the total, while four have gone under and none have pushed. The team is 3-2 SU at home this year.
Buffalo’s converted on 20.9 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated 17th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 75.8 percent of all penalties.
Buffalo, as a collective unit, has been penalized 3.8 times per game this season, a number that is up some from last year’s 3.4 penalties per game the team gave up. After serving an average of 8.2 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team’s been forced to kill penalties for 9.1 minutes per matchup this season.
Sporting a .905 save percentage and 28.5 saves per game, Carter Hutton (4-4) has been the most dependable goalkeeper for the Sabres this year. If they, however, choose to give him the evening off, Buffalo might turn to Linus Ullmark (2-1-1 record, .935 save percentage, 2.00 goals against average).
Jeff Skinner and Jack Eichel will both lead the offensive attack for the Sabres. Skinner (12 points) has tallied six goals and six assists and has recorded two or more points in three different games this year. Eichel has three goals and eight assists to his name and has notched at least one point in five contests.
On the other hand, Calgary is 6-6 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 12 regular season outings, seven of its games have gone over the total, while four have gone under the total and none have pushed. Calgary’s 4-3 SU as a road team this season.
Calgary has converted on just 14.9 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that places it in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 24th overall and it’s successfully killed off 72.5 percent of all opponent power plays.
Calgary’s skaters have been penalized only 3.5 times per game this season. Last season, that number was at 4.4, which was the second-worst mark in the league. After serving an average of 11.2 penalty minutes per game a year ago (most in the league), the team’s had to kill penalties for only 7.6 minutes per matchup this season.
Mike Smith (23.2 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Calgary. Smith owns a 4-5-1 record, while registering a .878 save percentage and 3.55 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Flames, the offense will be coordinated by Johnny Gaudreau (five goals, 10 assists) and Matthew Tkachuk (four goals, nine assists).
Calgary Flames vs. Buffalo Sabres Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Flames, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- The total has gone over in each of Buffalo’s last five outings.
- The Flames are 0-2 SU in games where they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Sabres are 1-1 SU when they spend more time in the box than the opposition.
- After posting a 2-5 record in games decided by a shootout last year, Calgary is off to a 0-1 start in shootouts this season. Buffalo went 1-2 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
