Squaring off for the third and final time this year, the New Jersey Devils and the Buffalo Sabres face off at the KeyBank Center for an Eastern Conference tilt. The first puck will drop at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 30, and you’ll be able to witness the game live on MSG Plus 2.
New Jersey Devils at Buffalo Sabres Odds
New Jersey is 24-24 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 2.3 units this year. 25 of its outings have gone over the total, while 22 have gone under and just one has pushed. This 2017-18 Devils team is 11-13 SU on the road.
New Jersey has converted on 20.0 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked fifth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.6 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Devils have been penalized 3.9 times per game during the 2017-18 season, 4.0 per game over its last five matchups total, and 3.8 per game over its last five on the road. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays 8.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .913 save percentage and 28.9 saves per game, Cory Schneider (18-17-6) has been the top option in goal for New Jersey this season. If head coach John Hynes decides to rest him, however, the team might go with Keith Kinkaid (7-7-2), who has a .892 save percentage and 3.28 goals against average this year.
Taylor Hall and Jesper Bratt will both lead the way for the visiting Devils. Hall (48 points) has tallied 17 goals and 31 assists, and has recorded two or more points in 15 different games. Bratt has 12 goals and 18 assists to his name (and has logged a point in 21 games).
Buffalo is 14-35 straight up (SU) and has lost 17.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. 26 of its games have gone under the total, while 20 have gone over and just three have pushed. It’s 6-15 SU as the home team this year.
The Sabres have converted on just 16.0 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s ranked 26th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 24th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 78.6 percent of all penalties.
Sabres players have been penalized only 3.6 times per game in total this season, 3.4 per game over their past five match ups total, and 3.6 per game over their last five at home. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 8.0 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Robin Lehner (26.6 saves per game) has been the top selection in goal for the Sabres. Lehner has 11 wins, 26 losses, and six OT losses to his credit and has registered a .912 save percentage and 2.87 goals against average this year.
Jack Eichel (20 goals, 29 assists) will pace the attack for the Sabres.
New Jersey Devils vs. Buffalo Sabres Betting Predictions
Prediction: SU Winner – Devils, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Over New Jersey’s last ten games, five of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-4 in those games).
- New Jersey has averaged 3.0 goals per game overall this season, but is down to 0.8 goals per contest over its four-game losing skid.
- Power-play opportunities could have a critical role in this game. The Devils are 7-11 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 10-18 when they serve fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total. The Sabres are 5-12 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 11-25 when their penalty minutes are in the single digits.
- Two of New Jersey’s last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 0-2 in those games and 3-4 overall in shootouts this season.
- The under has hit in three of Buffalo’s last five outings.
- Buffalo has scored 2.3 goals per game overall this season, but has raised it up to 3.7 per contest in its past three games (the teams a perfect 0-0 SU over that streak).
- Buffalo has averaged 4.2 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 7.1 giveaways per game (the 5th-fewest in the league).
- New Jersey is ranked eighth this season with 7.9 giveaways per game. That figures trended higher recently, as the teams averaged 8.8 giveaways over its last 10 games and 9.2 giveaways over its last five.
- The Sabres this season have recorded the 10th-most hits in the NHL (22.8 per game).
