The KeyBank Center is playing host to an enticing matchup as the Buffalo Sabres welcome the visiting Arizona Coyotes. It’s the last time that the two clubs will meet in the regular season. This cross-country matchup gets going at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 13, and it will be broadcasted live on Fox Sports Arizona.
Arizona Coyotes vs. Buffalo Sabres Odds
Buffalo (-145) is currently favored over Arizona (+125) and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals (-130 over, +110 under).
The Sabres are 18-13 straight up (SU) and have earned 8.4 units for moneyline bettors this season. That winning percentage, the third-best in the Atlantic Division so far this season, is a huge turnaround from how the team performed during last year’s regular season (25-57). Of its 31 games this season, 16 have gone over the total, while 14 have gone under and just one has pushed. The team is 10-5 SU at home this season.
Buffalo’s converted on 18.6 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 11th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.5 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, Buffalo has been penalized just 3.5 times per game overall this season, 3.4 per game over its last five contests total, and 3.4 per game over its last five home outings. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays for just 8.7 minutes per game over its last 10 matchups, in total.
Averaging 28.0 saves per game with a .917 save percentage, Carter Hutton (12-9-1) has been the top goalkeeper for the Sabres this season. If the Sabres decide to give him the night off, however, the team might roll with Linus Ullmark (7-4-4 record, .912 save percentage, 3.03 goals against average).
The Sabres will continue to lean on the leadership via Jack Eichel and Jeff Skinner. Eichel (38 points) has put up 10 goals and 28 assists and has recorded multiple points in 14 different games this year. Skinner has 21 goals and 10 assists to his name and has notched at least one point in 20 games.
On the other hand, Arizona is 13-16 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.1 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 29 regular season matches, 14 of its games have gone over the total, while another 14 have gone under the total and just one has pushed. As the visiting team, Arizona is 7-7 SU so far.
Arizona has converted on 17.0 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked first overall and it’s successfully killed off 90.6 percent of all penalties.
Arizona’s players have been whistled for penalties 3.7 times per game in total this season, and 2.2 per game over their past five contests. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 7.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Darcy Kuemper (.909 save percentage and 2.83 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Arizona. Kuemper is averaging 27.6 saves per game and has four wins, eight losses, and two OT losses to his credit.
Clayton Keller (eight goals, 13 assists) has been one of the top playmakers on offense for the visiting Coyotes.
Arizona Coyotes vs. Buffalo Sabres Betting Predictions
Prediction: SU Winner \u2013 Sabres, O/U \u2013 Over
Betting Trends
- For both of these clubs, the over has hit in three of their last five matches.
- Arizona has managed 23.4 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Buffalo is averaging 37.8 shots per game over its last five at home.
- Penalties and power plays could prove to be critical in the outcome of this game. The Coyotes are 4-8 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 5-12 when they serve fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total. The Sabres are 8-6 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 13-8 in games where total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
- Buffalo has forced 5.1 takeaways per game (ranked 30th in the league).
- Arizona has allowed 2.8 goals per game overall this season, but is allowing 4.3 goals per contest over its three-game losing streak.
- Arizona skaters have created 3.8 takeaways per game over its last five road games, a drop-off from its season average of 5.9 takeaways per game (ranked 27th in the NHL).
