The KeyBank Center is playing host to an enticing tilt as the Buffalo Sabres face off against the visiting Philadelphia Flyers. The match gets going at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 8, and you are able to catch this Eastern Conference matchup live on NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Flyers at Buffalo Sabres Odds
Buffalo (-125) is tabbed as the favorite over Philadelphia (+105), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 7 goals. If gamblers want to wager on the game’s total, they’ll be looking at odds of -105 money on the over and -115 for the under.
The Sabres are 17-12 straight-up (SU) and have netted moneyline bettors 8.6 units this year. That win percentage, the third-best in the Atlantic Division so far in the early season, is a welcomed turnaround from how the team performed during the 2017-18 season (25-57). Among its 29 games this season, 14 have gone over the total, while an additional 14 have gone under and just one has pushed. Thus far, the team is 9-4 SU at home.
Buffalo has converted on 18.3 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated 15th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.0 percent of all penalties.
Buffalo, as a collective unit, has been called for penalties just 3.4 times per game overall this season, and 2.4 per game over its last five outings home outings. The team has had to kill penalties for just 8.0 minutes per game over its last 10 matchups, overall.
Averaging 28.0 saves per game with a .917 save percentage, Carter Hutton (12 wins, nine losses, and one OT loss) has been the top option in goal for the Sabres this season. If head coach Phil Housley decides to give him a rest, however, the team might roll with Linus Ullmark (6-3-3 record, .921 save percentage, 2.71 goals against average).
The Sabres will continue to lean on the leadership via Jack Eichel and Jeff Skinner. Eichel (34 points) has tallied seven goals and 27 assists and has recorded two or more points 12 times this year. Skinner has 20 goals and nine assists to his name and has recorded a point in 18 contests.
On the visiting bench, Philadelphia is 11-15 straight up (SU) and has lost 6.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 26 regular season contests, 16 of its games have gone over the total, while 10 have gone under the total and none have pushed. As the visiting team this season, Philadelphia is 6-6 SU.
Philadelphia has converted on just 14.5 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that places it in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 30th overall and it’s successfully killed off 72.9 percent of all opponent power plays.
Philadelphia’s players have been penalized 4.3 times per game in total this season, and 3.2 per game over their last five contests. The team has had to kill penalties just 8.2 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Brian Elliott (25.0 saves per game) has been the primary choice in the net for Philadelphia. Elliott has seven wins and seven losses to his credit, and has registered a .911 save percentage and 2.59 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Flyers, the offense will be facilitated by Claude Giroux, who has 22 assists and 10 goals this season.
Philadelphia Flyers at Buffalo Sabres Free Picks
NHL Prediction: SU Winner \u2013 Sabres, O/U \u2013 Over
Betting Notes
- For both of these clubs, the under has hit in three of their last five matchups.
- The Sabres are 5-4 SU in games where they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Flyers are 4-7 SU when they serve more minutes than their opponent.
- Buffalo is ranked 31st in the NHL this season with 5.1 takeaways per game. That figure’s trended upward lately, as the team has averaged 5.8 takeaways over its last 10 games and 6.4 takeaways over its last five.
- Philadelphia skaters have created 5.4 takeaways per game over its last five road games, right in line with its season average of 5.2 takeaways per game (ranked 30th overall).
- Buffalo may hold the upper hand if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s 10-6 in games decided by one goal, while Philadelphia is 3-6 in such games.
