Buffalo Sabres at Vegas Golden Knights odds, picks and predictions
The Buffalo Sabres (12-15-3) and Vegas Golden Knights (20-5-5) meet Friday night at T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nev. Opening puck drop is slated for 10 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Sabres vs. Golden Knights odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Buffalo is playing the middle contest of a 3-game road trip through the West. On Wednesday, the Sabres opened that trip with a shaky 5-1 loss at the Colorado Avalanche. Now just 2-5-1 over its last 8 games, Buffalo fell behind 3-0 in the first 12 minutes in Denver. The Sabres did not register a shot on goal until the 18:35-mark of that 1st frame.
The Golden Knights are on home ice for a 3rd straight game. The 1st two games of the home stand have been near-carbon copies, with Vegas defeating the San Jose Sharks and Calgary Flames -- both in 5-4 games that went past regulation -- on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively. Overall, the Knights have won 4 in a row and 6 of their last 7 (6-0-1).
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Sabres at Golden Knights odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:38 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Sabres +180 (bet $100 to win $180) | Golden Knights -225 (bet $225 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Sabres +1.5 (-120) | Golden Knights -1.5 (+100)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Sabres at Golden Knights projected goalies
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (6-6-1, 2.99 GAA, .901 SV%) vs. Logan Thompson (9-3-3, 2.39 GAA, .915 SV%)
Luukkonen was an illness scratch for the Sabres’ games Dec. 5, 7 and 9, and was a backup option on Monday. On Wednesday in Denver, he made his 1st start since Dec. 3. The 24-year-old yielded the 3 quick goals, but stayed in the game; he allowed all 5 goals in the loss.
Thompson has not always been dialed-in sharp of late, but he has not filed a regulation loss since Nov. 25. Since then and including his last start (27 saves, 4G allowed Tuesday vs. Calgary), he has logged a .911 SV%.
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Sabres at Golden Knights picks and predictions
Prediction
Golden Knights 5, Sabres 2
Moneyline
The Sabres are just 6-8-2 on the road and can't be recommended with this type of talent gap. The price on the Knights is floating atop too much juice. PASS.
Puck line/Against the spread
Across the last 4 series meetings in Las Vegas, the Knights are 3-1 straight up. All 3 wins have been by multiple goals.
Buffalo has yielded 4 goals or more in 5 of its last 7 road games.
Vegas, 11-2-2, at home this season, has been finding plenty of twine lately. The Knights have scored 5.0 goals per game over their last 4 contests and 4.38 GPG over their last 8. Since Nov. 30, they have outscored foes 31-16.
Over that stretch since, Nov. 30, Vegas is 6-0-1 with a powerplay humming along at 28.6%.
FanDuel Sportsbook offers the best leverage play here. TAKE THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS -1.5 (+114).
Over/Under
The combined O/U for these clubs this season is 18-31-2. But the goalie comparison, some fade-Vegas-defense in the Knights' expected-goals findings, and the surging VGK offense make for an Over lean in this meeting.
The total listed, though, accounts for much of this sway. Plus money on an Over 6.5 would be worth some action. But PASS otherwise.
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