The Buffalo Sabres (13-14-2) and Colorado Avalanche (15-10-2) meet Thursday at Ball Arena in Denver. Puck drop is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Sabres vs. Avalanche odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Sabres are coming off a 6-0 victory against the Los Angeles Kings Tuesday behind G Craig Anderson. Buffalo has racked up 4 or more goals in 8 of the past 11 outings, including a 6-4 loss at home to the Avalanche on Dec. 1.
The Avalanche scored 3 power-play goals in that 6-4 win in Buffalo, with G Alexandar Georgiev making 24 saves on 28 shots in the victory. However, Colorado has been struggling lately with just 11 goals across the 6 outings since that 6-goal explosion in Buffalo.
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Sabres at Avalanche odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Sabres +155 (bet $100 to win $155) | Avalanche -180 (bet $180 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Sabres +1.5 (160) | Avalanche -1.5 (+130)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -125 | U: +105)
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Sabres at Avalanche projected goalies
Craig Anderson (6-4-1, 2.71 GAA, .921 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Alexandar Georgiev (11-5-2, 2.65 GAA, .920 SV%, 1 SO)
Anderson scored his 1st shutout of the season against the Kings Tuesday and now he gets a crack at the Avalanche. The veteran Sabres backstop hasn’t won consecutive starts since winning his first 3 starts of the season between Oct. 13-29.
Georgiev allowed just 1 goal on 29 shots in a 2-1 shootout loss against the New York Rangers Friday, snapping a string of 4 straight starts with 4 or more goals allowed. He is 0-2-1 in his previous 3 starts since his last win Dec. 1.
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Sabres at Avalanche picks and predictions
Prediction
Avalanche 4, Sabres 2
The AVALANCHE (-180) is right at my personal limit for a standalone moneyline play, but Colorado is the play based on its dominance in this series over the years.
The Avs have won 9 of the past 10 meetings in Denver, while going 21-6 in the previous 27 meetings in this series — including Dec. 1 in Buffalo.
Puck line/Against the spread
The AVALANCHE -1.5 (+130) are worth a roll of the dice on the puck line, as Colorado lit the lamp 6 times in the first meeting between these teams. While the Avs will be facing Anderson, coming off a shutout, instead of G Ukko Pekka Luukkonen, the results will be the same.
Over/Under
UNDER 6.5 (+105) is the lean here.
While all of the trends point to the Over for the Sabres, the Under has cashed in 4 in a row for the Avalanche and gone 4-0 in their past 4 games at home. The Under is 7-2-1 in the past 10 games against Eastern Conference foes for the Avs, too.
This won’t be a defensive slog, but it won’t go over 7 total goals, either.
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