Mike Hoffman, Jonathan Huberdeau, and the Florida Panthers will face off against Jack Eichel, Rasmus Dahlin, and the Buffalo Sabres at the KeyBank Center for an Atlantic Division showdown. The match gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, October 11 and it can be watched live on Fox SportsNet Florida.
Florida Panthers vs. Buffalo Sabres Odds
Moneyline odds have not yet been posted for this matchup.
Buffalo is 3-1 straight up (SU) and has earned 2.6 units for moneyline bettors this season. That winning percentage, the best in the Atlantic Division in this young season, is a welcomed improvement over the 33-49 record from the 2018-19 season campaign. The team’s 2-0 SU at home so far this year.
The Sabres have successfully connected on 53.3 percent of their power play opportunities in 2019-20. That’s a big improvement from last year, when they were ranked 16th in the league by scoring on 19.5 percent of their extra-man chances. Their penalty kill has fallen off significantly year-over-year as they’ve gone from successfully defending 80.8 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked 12th overall last season) to 69.2 percent this year.
Averaging 23.0 saves per game with a .908 save percentage, the undefeated Carter Hutton (3-0) has been the top option in goal for the Sabres this season. If the Sabres choose to give him a breather, however, Buffalo may turn to Linus Ullmark (0-1-1 record, .909 save percentage, 3.96 goals against average).
In the other locker room, Florida is 1-2 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.2 units for moneyline bettors this year. The over has hit in all three of the team’s games this season.
The Panthers have recorded a goal on 30.8 percent of their power play chances this year after converting on 26.8 percent of their extra-man opportunities last season (which ranked them third in the league in that category). The team’s gone from successfully defending 81.3 percent of opponent power plays (ranked ninth overall last season) to 75.0 percent this year.
Sergei Bobrovsky (22.3 saves per game) has been the main choice in the net for Florida. Bobrovsky has one win and two losses to his credit, while registering a .859 save percentage and 4.77 goals against average this year.
Florida Panthers at Buffalo Sabres Free Picks
NHL Pick: SU Winner – Sabres, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- For both of these teams, the over has hit in three of their past five outings.
- After averaging the sixth-most shots in the league last season (33.0 per game), Florida’s attempted 38.3 shots per game overall this season, and 37.0 in its last five road outings.
- Florida has yet to win a game by two more more goals this season.
- Florida skaters registered 23.2 hits per game last season, while the Sabres posted 19.1 hits per contest.
