Jack Eichel, Jeff Skinner, and the Buffalo Sabres will face off against Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, and the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena for an Atlantic Division showdown. The puck is going to drop at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 29, and it is being televised live on Fox Sports Sun.
Buffalo Sabres at Tampa Bay Lightning Odds
The Lightning (-175) are favored over the Sabres (+155), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been placed at an even 6 goals (-115 over, -105 under).
Earning 2.5 units for moneyline bettors, Tampa Bay is 17-8 straight up (SU) overall in the 2018-19 season. That winning percentage, the league’s second-strongest so far in this young season, hasn’t moved much from what the team posted during the 2017-18 season (54-28). Through 25 regular season matches, 12 of its games have gone over the total, while 11 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team’s 10-4 SU at home this season.
The Lightning have connected on 26.7 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 14th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 80.9 percent of all penalties.
With a .927 save percentage and 29.4 saves per game, Andrei Vasilevskiy (9-4-1) has been the top option in goal for Tampa Bay this year. If head coach Jon Cooper decides to give him the night off, however, Tampa Bay may go with Louis Domingue (8-4-4 record, .903 save percentage, 3.19 goals against average).
On the other side of the ice, Buffalo is 17-8 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 12.6 units this year. A total of 12 of its outings have gone over the total, while another 12 have gone under the total and just one has pushed. The Sabres are 8-5 SU as an away team this season.
The Sabres have converted on 19.8 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked ninth overall and it’s successfully killed off 81.9 percent of all opponent power plays.
Carter Hutton (.920 save percentage and 2.50 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Buffalo. Hutton is averaging 28.0 saves per game and owns a 12-7-1 record.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Free Picks
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Lightning, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- The total has gone under in three of Buffalo’s last five outings.
- Six of Tampa Bay’s last ten games have been decided by two or more goals, and the team is 4-2 overall in those games.
- The Lightning this season have handed out the sixth-most hits per game in the NHL (24.5).
