The Carolina Hurricanes (10-7-1) and Buffalo Sabres (9-6-2) square off in Western New York on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET. Both teams are 4-5-1 across the past 10 outings.
Hurricanes at Sabres: Projected starting goalies
Petr Mrazek vs. Carter Hutton
Mrazek enters play with an 8-3-1 record, 2.51 goals-against average and .907 save percentage. He received a ton of support last time out in a victory against the Ottawa Senators, winning 8-2. While he has a strong overall record, keep in mind that he is 7-1-0 with a 2.11 GAA and .918 save percentage at home, but just a 1-2-1 record, 3.44 GAA and .883 save percentage on the road.
Like Mrazek, Hutton owns an impressive overall record and tremendously opposite splits. He is 6-3-1 with a 2.39 GAA and .921 save percentage overall. On the road he is just 2-2-0 with a 3.06 GAA and .914 save percentage, but he is a solid 4-1-1 with a 1.96 GAA and .927 save percentage in his six assignments at home.
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Hurricanes at Sabres: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 8:50 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Sabres 4, Hurricanes 2
Moneyline (ML)
The SABRES (+115) are a sharp play at home catching plus-money. The Hurricanes (-139) have been less than stellar on the road, and Mrazek has had his struggles, as mentioned above. Hutton has been red-hot at home, but the Sabres have struggled overall. They’re 0-4-1 in the past five outings, including a pair of losses in Sweden against the Tampa Bay Lightning. They haven’t played since Nov. 9, so will be well rested after their overseas trip to Stockholm. Look for them to roar back to life at home.
New to sports betting? A $10 wager on Buffalo returns a profit of $11.50 – every $1 wagered profits $1.15 with a Sabres win.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
The Sabres (+1.5, -239) are underdogs, so the puck line is not worth a look. You don’t need the insurance, as I expect them to win outright. Consider the alternate line (including overtime and shootouts), laying -1.5 to win +300, or three times your bet, with a two-goal win by the home side.
Over/Under (O/U)
The OVER 5.5 (-154) is worth a small-unit play, but beware of the high juice on this wager. Personally, while I feel the game should just inch across the finish line for the over, I wouldn’t risk it at this price.
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