The Buffalo Sabres (40-32-7) travel to meet the New Jersey Devils (50-22-8) Tuesday. Puck drop from Prudential Center is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Sabres vs. Devils odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Sabres might be eliminated from the playoff chase, but they’re not playing like it. Buffalo has won 5 of the last 6 games, including beating the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers from the Metropolitan Division.
The Devils were tripped up 2-1 on the road against the Boston Bruins on Saturday. New Jersey is still 4-2 in the lst 6 games, and the Devils have crept to within 1 point of the 1st-place Hurricanes in the Metro with 2 games left in the regular season.
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Sabres at Devils odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:27 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Sabres +165 (bet $100 to win $165) | Devils -200 (bet $200 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Sabres +1.5 (-145) | Devils -1.5 (+120)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7 (O: +100 | U: -120)
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Sabres at Devils projected goalies
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (17-11-4, 3.61 GAA, .892 SV%) vs. Vitek Vanecek (32-11-4, 2.46 GAA, .910 SV%, 3 SO)
Luukkonen allowed just 3 goals on 42 shots in his most recent appearance April 1 in Philadelphia. Lately, it’s been the Devon Levi show, but after the impressive prospect started Monday, it’s highly doubtful he starts in a back-to-back stituation.
Vanecek allowed just a single goal on 17 shots in an 8-1 laugher against the Columbus Blue Jackets last time out. He has allowed just 1 goal apiece in 3 of his last 4 games. The last time he faced the Sabres he allowed 2 goals on 19 shots in a relief effort on March 24.
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Sabres at Devils picks and predictions
Prediction
Devils 5, Sabres 3
Moneyline
The Devils (-200) will cost you 2 times your potential return, which is just too much risk with the way the Sabres (+165) have been performing lately. Buffalo has rattled off 5 consecutive victories against teams with a winning record, too.
PASS.
Puck line/Against the spread
The DEVILS -1.5 (+120) are playing for a Metropolitan Division title, and they’ll bring it on home ice against a Sabres +1.5 (-145) team facing the quick turnaround after a stunning 3-2 win in a shootout over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Monday night.
While there is some risk here, as the road team has won 9 of the last 12 meetings in this series, the Sabres are 1-6 in the last 7 games in the 4th game of a 4-in-6 (4 games in 6 days) situation.
Over/Under
OVER 7 (+100) is worth a look at even-money.
The Over is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in this series, and the Over has cashed at an 8-3-2 clip in the last 13 meetings. The Over is also 23-11-1 in the 35 meetings against Metropolitan Division opponents.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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