Andreas Athanasiou, Dylan Larkin, and the Detroit Red Wings will do battle against Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart, and the Buffalo Sabres at the KeyBank Center for an Atlantic Division tilt. Fox Sports Detroit will air the game, and the puck drops at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 28.
Detroit Red Wings vs. Buffalo Sabres Odds
Buffalo (-145) is currently the favorite over Detroit (+125), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals (-125 for the under, +105 for the over).
Buffalo is 31-45 straight up (SU) and has recorded -11.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage is a welcomed improvement compared to how the team performed during the 2017-18 season (25-57). Through 76 regular season contests, 40 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while 33 have gone under and just three have pushed. The team’s 20-17 SU at home this year.
The Sabres have converted on 18.0 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 17th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 80.5 percent of all penalties.
With a .909 save percentage and 27.9 saves per game, Carter Hutton (17-30-5) has been the top goalkeeper for the Sabres this season. If the Sabres, however, decide to give him the evening off, head coach Phil Housley may roll with Linus Ullmark (15-19-19 record, .906 save percentage, 3.09 goals against average).
Detroit has lost 4.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year and is currently 28-48 straight up (SU). A total of 39 of its matches have gone under the total, while 35 have gone over and just two have pushed. As a road team, the Red Wings are 14-25 SU.
The Red Wings have converted on just 16.4 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that’s ranked 26th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 29th overall and it’s successfully killed off 77.6 percent of all opponent power plays.
Jimmy Howard (.908 save percentage and 3.02 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Detroit. Howard is averaging 28.1 saves per game and owns a 20-29-7 record.
Detroit Red Wings at Buffalo Sabres Free Picks
Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Sabres, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- Two of the Sabres’ last ten games have ended in a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 5-3 overall in shootouts this season.
- The under has hit in four of Detroit’s last five outings.
- Detroit has managed 25.2 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Buffalo has been attempting 31.4 shots per game over its last five at home.
- Over Buffalo’s last ten outings, eight of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 0-8 in those games).
- Detroit skaters recorded 19.6 hits per game last season, while the Sabres logged 21.5 hits per contest.
