The Buffalo Sabres visit the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night, with puck drop set for 10:00 p.m. ET at Honda Center. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Buffalo is a -142 favorite on the Moneyline, while the total is set at O/U 6.5 goals.
Below, I’ll break down the matchup and provide my top Ducks vs. Sabres prediction and best bet.
Ducks vs. Sabres Odds
| Market | Buffalo Sabres | Anaheim Ducks |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | -142 | +120 |
| Puck Line | -1.5 (+170) | +1.5 (-205) |
| Total | Over 6.5 (-125) | Under 6.5 (+105) |
Ducks vs. Sabres Betting Preview
Anaheim Ducks Outlook
Anaheim has struggled at home, going 1-3-1, and it’s coming off a 6-5 overtime loss to Vancouver on Tuesday. The Ducks have allowed four goals or more in five of their past six games, and their 3.62 xGoals against per 60 are the third-most in the league, with only three teams giving up more high-danger shots. It’s been even worse at 5v5 lately, where Anaheim’s 3.06 xGoals against per 60 over its past 10 games rank 31st.
Luckily, the offense has kept the Ducks in games, scoring five goals in each of their past two outings. Leo Carlsson leads the team with 15 points, 11 of them assists, and Beckett Sennecke has a team-high seven goals on the second line with Mikael Granlund and Jeff Malott. Anaheim’s power play also ranks ninth at 23.7%, which will be a tough matchup for Buffalo’s poor penalty kill.
Ville Husso is likely starting between the pipes tonight after going 1-2-0 with a 3.09 GAA and .886 SV%, and he has allowed eight goals across his past two starts against the Rangers and Devils.
Buffalo Sabres Outlook
Buffalo has spent plenty of time in overtime this season, with five of its 12 games going past regulation, and it sports a 2-1-3 record on the road. The Sabres enter tonight’s tilt coming off a 2-0 win in San Jose on Tuesday, while they’ve created chances at a solid clip, ranking tied for sixth with 35 high-danger shots and ninth with a 53.0% 5v5 Corsi%.
Buffalo is shuffling its lines for this one, with Tage Thompson expected to center Peyton Krebs and Zach Benson on the top line. Thompson leads the team with 51 shots, while Jack Quinn and Owen Power share the team lead with 11 points apiece. Buffalo’s special teams have dragged the club’s numbers down, with a power play that ranks last in the NHL at 9.8% and a penalty kill tied for 25th at 71.4%. Jiri Kulich remains sidelined, as he did not travel with the team for its West Coast road trip.
Colten Ellis will likely draw his second straight start for Buffalo after turning aside all 23 shots he faced in San Jose. He is 2-1-0 with a 2.28 GAA and .902 SV%, and his SV% above expected ranks 11th among 71 goalies.
Ducks vs. Sabres Prediction and Best Bet
With Anaheim giving up chances at one of the highest rates in the league and its ninth-ranked power play going up against Buffalo’s leaky penalty kill, I’m expecting a healthy dose of goalscoring tonight. Seven of Buffalo’s 12 games have finished with seven goals or more, and the Ducks have allowed four or more in five of their past six outings. Ellis played very well on Tuesday, but a Ducks team that has scored five goals in each of its past two games should give him a lot more trouble.
Best Bet: Over 6.5 Goals (-125)
Advanced stats courtesy of MoneyPuck.
