The Buffalo Sabres (6-23-5) will try once again to snap a losing skid, now sitting at 18 games, when they host the Philadelphia Flyers (17-13-4) for the second straight game Wednesday. Puck drop at KeyBank Center will be at 7:30 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Flyers-Sabres odds and lines, with NHL picks and predictions.
The Sabres coughed up a 3-0 40-minute lead Monday in a 4-3 overtime loss. The Flyers scored thrice in the third period and again in the first minute of OT for a second straight win. They sit fifth in the East Division.
Buffalo is eighth in the East and hasn’t won since beating the New Jersey Devils 4-1 Feb. 23. Only two of its last 18 losses went beyond regulation time.
Flyers at Sabres: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:27 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Flyers -190 (bet $190 to win $100) | Sabres +160 (bet $160 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Flyers -1.5 (+145) | Sabres +1.5 (-175)
- Over/Under: 6 (O: +100 | U: -120)
Flyers at Sabres: Projected starting goalies
Brian Elliott (9-4-1, .893 SV%, 2.84 GAA) vs. Linus Ullmark (5-5-3, .916 SV%, 2.60 GAA)
Elliott continues to handle No. 1 duties in favor of the struggling Carter Hart. The 35-year-old veteran has won the last two games for Philly following a personal three-game losing skid. He improved to 4-0-0 against the Sabres for the season with Monday’s win. H has two shutouts in the head-to-head series.
Ullmark will make his third start since a monthlong injury absence. He has allowed 7 goals on 72 shots in his last two games. Monday’s game was his first of the season against Philadelphia.
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Flyers at Sabres: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Sabres 3, Flyers 2
Money line (ML)
The SABRES (+160) were close enough to victory Monday they should be backed to seal the deal in Wednesday’s rematch.
The Flyers are still just 6-9-1 in March even after back-to-back victories and fatigue is a concern for Elliott with his increased workload.
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Against the spread (ATS)
The Sabres are 1-3-2 against the Flyers in the head-to-head season series following Monday’s OT loss. They have a 6-1 win and three 3-0 losses, and both of the last two meetings went beyond 60 minutes with a March 9 contest in Philadelphia going to a shootout.
While the money line offers a much nicer return on investment, the SABRES +1.5 (-175) should be backed with 1 goal of insurance to keep it close once again.
Over/Under (O/U)
Ullmark has given the Sabres a much better chance to win games than any other Buffalo goaltender this season. Elliott has also been the better of the two Philly netminders.
Back the UNDER 6 (-120) with both teams averaging less than 50% of the scoring chances at 5-on-5 in their games this season.
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