Buffalo Sabres vs Chicago Blackhawks Preview
The Blackhawks and Sabres are set to face off at 7:30 ET on TNT. The Sabres will host the game at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY.
The over/under for this non-conference contest is set at 6 goals, with the Sabres being the favored team playing at home against the Blackhawks. Check out BetCoco for Buffalo Sabres – Chicago Blackhawks odds
Buffalo Sabres vs Chicago Blackhawks Head-to-Head and Key Stats
When looking back on the last three times the Sabres and Blackhawks have played each other, Buffalo has the edge with a record of 2-1. However, the average scoring differential in these matchups is dead even with each team averaging 3 goals per game.
- Across their three previous road games, Chicago has an puck line mark of 1-2. Their straight up record in these matchups was 0-3 while averaging 1 goals per game.
- Buffalo has played well in their previous five home games, going 3-2 straight up. In this stretch, they averaged 2 goals per game while allowing 2. The team also performed well vs the puck line at 3-2.
- Spanning across their last three games as the betting underdog, the Sabres have gone 2-1 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 1-2.
- Going back to their previous five games as the favorite, Chicago has an puck line mark of 1-4 while going 2-3 straight up.
Buffalo Sabres vs Chicago Blackhawks Prediction
As the season has progressed, the Blackhawks have fallen further and further behind in the Western Conference standings. With an overall record of 13-29-2, they have just 28 points and are in 15th place in the conference. In their division, they are in 8th place, having gone just 3-13 against Central Division opponents. On the road this year, Chicago is just 4-18-1 and has lost five straight games away from home. Over their last ten games, the Blackhawks have gone just 2-8 and have lost three straight games as the underdog.
So far this year, Chicago has been the underdog in 42 of their 44 games and have gone 12-28-2 in those games. Against other teams from the Western Conference, the Blackhawks are 8-18 this year. Over their last five games, they have gone 2-3 and are 1-2 in their last three games. For the season, they have been the favorite just twice and have gone 1-1-0 in those games.
On offense, the Blackhawks are averaging 2.2 goals per game which is 30th in the NHL. In terms of shots on goal per game, they are 31st in the league. The Blackhawks went 1-8 in games where they had more shots than their opponents. However, in games with fewer shots on goal, their record was 12-19.
Entering the game, goalie Arvid Söderblom has started 16 games this season. His current record stands at 2-13, and his save percentage is 0.602%.
At home this season, the Sabres have gone 10-11-1 and are 9-6-1 when favored. Over their last ten games, Buffalo has gone 5-5 and have won two straight games as the favorite.
For the season, the Sabres are 19-21-4 and sit in 14th place in the Eastern Conference. In the Atlantic Division, Buffalo is in 7th place with a record of 7-6. In their last five games, the Sabres have gone 3-2, and over their last three games, they are 2-1.
In terms of their offensive performance, the Sabres are averaging 3 goals per game this season, putting them in the 20th spot in the NHL. When it comes to shots on goal per game, they are ranked 11th in the league. So far this year, the Sabres are 13-13 in games they have had more shots on goal than their opponent. They are 6-8 in games with fewer shots on goal.
Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen gets the start and has made 19 starts this season. His record at this point is 10-9, and his save percentage is 0.699%.
With the Sabres being favored by 1.5, our NHL analytics models has this one playing out 4-3 in favor of the Sabres.
Buffalo Sabres vs Chicago Blackhawks Betting Tips
- Take the Sabres on the moneyline
- On the spread, we like Blackhawks (+1.5)
- Our NHL model projects 7 goals, and we suggest taking the under
Buffalo Sabres Injury Report
- Jeff Skinner – Upper Body – Out
- Victor Olofsson – Illness – Questionable
- Mattias Samuelsson – Upper Body – Questionable
Chicago Blackhawks Injury Report
- Anthony Beauvillier – Left Wrist – Out
- Nick Foligno – Finger – Out
- Andreas Athanasiou – Lower Body – Out
- Tyler Johnson – Foot – Out
- Taylor Hall – Knee – Out
- Connor Murphy – Lower Body – Questionable
- Luke Philp – Achilles – Out
- Samuel Savoie – Femur – Out
- Connor Bedard – Jaw – Out
