The KeyBank Center will be hosting an Eastern Conference clash as the Philadelphia Flyers come into town to face the Buffalo Sabres. The match will get underway at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, December 22, and fans at home can catch the game live on Sportsnet.
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Buffalo Sabres Odds
Philadelphia (-135) is currently favored over Buffalo (+115), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -140 under, +120 over.
Philadelphia is 15-19 straight up (SU) and has lost 6.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 34 regular season outings, 17 of its games have gone over the total, while 15 have gone under and just two have pushed. The Flyers are 7-8 SU on the road in 2017-18.
Philadelphia has converted on 20.0 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. Additionally, its penalty kill is ranked 29th out of 31 teams, and it has successfully killed off only 76.4 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Flyers have been penalized 3.7 times per game overall this season, and 2.6 per game over its past ten matchups. The teams had to kill penalties just 5.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Boasting a .912 save percentage and 27.2 saves per game, Brian Elliott (13-14-6) has been the top option in goal for Philadelphia this year. If head coach Dave Hakstol chooses to rest him, however, the team may roll with Michal Neuvirth (2-6-1 record, .915 save percentage, 2.66 goals against average).
The visiting Flyers will be led by Jakub Voracek and Claude Giroux. Voracek has 42 points on eight goals and 34 assists, and has recorded two or more points 14 times. Giroux has 13 goals and 26 assists to his name (and has notched a point in 23 games).
Over on the other bench, Buffalo is 8-26 straight up (SU) and has lost 18.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 34 regular season contests, 19 of its games have gone under the total, while 12 have gone over and just three have pushed. It’s 4-12 SU as the home team this year.
The Sabres have converted on just 12.7 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that places them in the bottom overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 12th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.5 percent of all penalties.
Buffalo players have been whistled for penalties only 3.6 times per game in total this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five home outings. The teams been forced to kill penalties 8.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Robin Lehner (26.5 saves per game) has been the primary selection in goal for the Sabres. Lehner has seven wins, 19 losses, and four OT losses and has recorded a .914 save percentage and 2.76 goals against average this season.
The home team offense will be led by Evander Kane (14 goals, 17 assists).
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Buffalo Sabres Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Sabres, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- The under has hit in four of Buffalo’s last five outings.
- Philadelphia has attempted 31.9 shots per game overall this season (ranked 16th in the NHL), and 30.0 in its last five road outings.
- Buffalo has allowed 3.3 goals per game, while scoring just 1.7 per contest, on its three-game losing skid.
- Over Buffalo’s last ten outings, five of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-4 in those games).
- The Sabres this season have recorded the sixth-most hits per game (23.4).
