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Pittsburgh Penguins at Buffalo Sabres odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Thursday’s Pittsburgh Penguins at Buffalo Sabres sports betting odds and lines, with NHL betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Pittsburgh Penguins (38-21-6) hit the road again, taking on the Buffalo Sabres (29-29-8) Thursday at KeyBank Center at 7 p.m. ET. We analyze the Penguins-Sabres sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.

Penguins at Sabres: Projected starting goalies

Matt Murray vs. Carter Hutton

Murray has been making inroads toward wrestling back the starting job from All-Star Tristan Jarry, who has been struggling. Jarry was 16-8-1 with a 2.16 goals against average and .929 save percentage with three shutouts before the All-Star break, but he is 4-3-0 with a 2.86 GAA and .907 SV% since. Murray is 3-4-1 with a 2.89 GAA and .898 SV% since the break, so they’re running neck and neck right now.

Hutton has been super streaky this season with a 12-13-4 record, 3.18 GAA and .898 SV% through 29 starts and a relief appearance. He is 2-0-0 with a 1.50 GAA and .958 SV% in his two starts against the Pens this season.

Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.

Penguins at Sabres: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 10:25 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Sabres 4, Penguins 3

Moneyline (ML)

The SABRES (+135) are a solid value, based on Hutton’s splits against the Penguins (-167) this season. Plus, the Pens have dropped five in a row away from the Steel City and they have won just once in their past seven games overall.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Sabres ML returns a profit of $13.50 if they win, while a $10 wager on the Penguins ML results in a profit of $6.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The Sabres (+1.5, -200) are a bit expensive if you aren’t feeling Buffalo on the moneyline but want a little insurance. Typically I am not a fan of risking twice my potential return, so just bet the moneyline. AVOID.

Over/Under (O/U)

The OVER 5.5 (-143) is a little too much juice for my liking, but this is the play. The Over is 4-1-1 in the past six for the Pens against Eastern Conference foes, while going 3-1-1 in the past six against Atlantic Division foes. The Over is 4-0 in Buffalo’s past four against the East and 9-4 in the past 13 against Metropolitan Division opponents.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Toronto Maple Leafs at Buffalo Sabres odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Toronto Maple Leafs at Buffalo Sabres sports betting odds, with NHL matchup analysis and picks.

The Toronto Maple Leafs (31-20-8) take a quick trip across the border to play the Atlantic Division-rival Buffalo Sabres (26-24-8), in the KeyBank Center at 7 p.m. ET. We analyze the Maple Leafs-Sabres odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips around this matchup.

Maple Leafs at Sabres: Projected starting goalies

Frederik Andersen vs. Jonas Johansson

Anderson lost in his last start against the Dallas Stars at home, saving just 16 of 19 shots. His record is now 24-10-6 with a .909 save percentage and 2.88 goals against average.

Johansson is making just his third start in his career as he was called up after backup goaltender Linus Ullmark was sidelined with an injury. This is back-to-back starts for Johansson who’s lost both of his starts and is 0-1-1 with a .899 SV% and 2.78 GAA.

Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.

Maple Leafs 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 12:40 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Sabres 4, Leafs 3

Moneyline (ML)

While the Maples Leafs are seeded eighth in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt, and Buffalo is 11 points behind the second wild card team, this is a fierce rivalry that the Sabres will get up for. Toronto is 7-1 in the last eight tilts against Buffalo, but the Leafs played on Saturday night and Toronto is 2-6-3 in the second game of back-to-backs. One of those victories did come in the second of a home and away back-to-back against Buffalo. The difference in this game is that the Sabres didn’t play the night before and are fresher than the Leafs. Expect the Sabres to hold down home ice and bet BUFFALO +125.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

It’d be wise to take BUFFALO +1.5 (-209) as insurance for our moneyline wager. Buffalo is 6-1 ATS over the previous seven games. Also, the Sabres are 27-12 as 1.5-goal dogs and the Leafs are 19-30 against the 1.5-goal puck line this season.

Over/Under (O/U)

The matchup to watch is first-line centers Sabres’ Jack Eichel vs. Leafs’ Auston Matthews. Buffalo’s captain has 22 points in 16 career games against the Leafs. Matthews scored two goals in their first meeting this season, but has only tallied one assist in the next two games. Eichel will continue his tear against Toronto, and Matthews will light the lamp in Buffalo against a rookie goalie.

The Over/Under Leafs-Sabres trends look good for the Over too. The Over is 18-7-3 in the last 28 meetings. Bookmakers have adjusted — setting their totals at 6.5 for the past six meetings — and the Over is 4-2 in those games. OVER 6.5 (+120) is the play.

Want some action on this matchup? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Detroit Red Wings at Buffalo Sabres odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Tuesday’s Detroit Red Wings at Buffalo Sabres sports betting odds and lines, with NHL betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Detroit Red Wings (14-39-4) and Buffalo Sabres (24-24-8) meet at KeyBank Center in Buffalo at 7 p.m. ET Tuesday. We analyze the Red Wings-Sabres sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.

Red Wings at Sabres: Projected starting goalies

Jonathan Bernier vs. Carter Hutton

Bernier led the Red Wings to a stunning win over the Boston Bruins this past weekend while stopping 39 of 40 shots faced. He has a respectable 12-14-2 record, 2.82 goals against average and .911 save percentage across his 29 starts and three relief appearances. He allowed three goals on 32 shots in a 4-3 shootout victory in Buffalo last Thursday.

Hutton didn’t dress for Sunday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks due to an off-ice personal issue, so Jonas Johansson made the start. If Hutton isn’t ready, it would be Johansson again. He was on the losing end of that 4-3 shootout game against the Red Wings last week.

Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.

Red Wings at Sabres: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 10:30 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Sabres 4, Red Wings 2

Moneyline (ML)

The Sabres (-223) are heavily favored over the Red Wings (+180), and you cannot roll the dice on a .500 team plummeting in the standings. AVOID the moneyline in favor of the spread. The Red Wings did win last week in Buffalo, but they have won back-to-back games on just two occasions since mid-November, and both times the Montreal Canadiens were involved in the two-game streak.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Red Wings to pull the upset returns a profit of $18, while a $10 wager on the Sabres results in a profit of $4.50.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The SABRES (-1.5, +125) look to avenge their loss against the Red Wings (+1.5, -150), a team with the NHL’s worst goal differential at minus-95. While Buffalo has been struggling lately, the Sabres are still a solid 15-10-4 at KeyBank Center this season. The favorite is also 25-11 in the past 36 head-to-head meetings.

If you are interested in ‘other goal bets’, you can take the first team to reach 3 goals. The SABRES (-139) are a solid play for this particular prop bet on home ice.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER 5.5 (-125) is worth a look, although neither of these teams will be mistaken for an offensive juggernaut. Still, a small-unit play on the Over is a good play, as it has cashed in four of the past five overall in this series.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Colorado Avalanche at Buffalo Sabres odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Tuesday’s Colorado Avalanche at Buffalo Sabres sports betting odds and lines, with NHL betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Colorado Avalanche (28-16-6) and Buffalo Sabres (23-22-7) tangle at KeyBank Center in Buffalo at 7 p.m. ET Tuesday. We analyze the Avalanche-Sabres sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.

Avalanche at Sabres: Projected starting goalies

Philipp Grubauer vs. Carter Hutton

The former Washington Capitals backstop will make the start against the Sabres looking to improve upon a 14-11-4 record, 2.90 goals against average and .908 save percentage across his 30 starts. He hasn’t faced the Sabres this season, but he posted a shutout against Buffalo on March 9 of last season.

Hutton enters Tuesday off of a rare win, as he stopped 22 of 23 shots against the Columbus Blue Jackets Saturday. He improved to 7-8-4 on the season with a .897 SV% and 3.13 GAA.

Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.

Avalanche 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 11 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Avalanche 5, Sabres 2

Moneyline (ML)

The AVALANCHE (-189) are a bit expensive on the moneyline, but they’re a good bet on the road against the flagging Sabres (+155). Colorado has posted a 14-3 record in the previous 17 meetings in this series, with the Avs going 7-2 in their past seven visits to Buffalo. The favorite is also 9-2 in the past 11 in this series.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Avalanche to win returns a profit of $5.30, while a $10 wager on the Sabres results in a profit of $15.50.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

Back the AVALANCHE (-1.5, +140) to win by at least 2 goals on the road for a greater return on your investment. The same $10 bet here will fetch a profit of $14.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER 6.5 (+125) is paying plus-money for a total of 7 goals to be scored. The Over is 4-1 in the past five meetings in this series, and 6-1-1 in the previous eight meetings in Buffalo. The Over is also 10-3 in Colorado’s past 13 as a favorite, and 4-0 in the past four in the Eastern Conference. The Over is 3-1-1 in Buffalo’s past five against opponents from the Central Division.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Vegas Golden Knights at Buffalo Sabres odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Tuesday’s Vegas Golden Knights at Buffalo Sabres sports betting odds and lines, with NHL matchup analysis, picks and tips.

The Vegas Golden Knights (24-18-6) and Buffalo Sabres (20-19-7) lock horns at KeyBank Center at 7 p.m. ET. We analyze the Golden Knights-Sabres sports betting odds and lines, with NHL matchup analysis, picks and tips.

Golden Knights at Sabres: Projected starting goalies

Marc-Andre Fleury vs. Linus Ullmark

Fleury heads into action with an 18-10-3 record, 2.84 goals against average and .907 save percentage with a pair of shutouts. He has actually been much better on the road than at home. He is 13-8-2 with a 3.05 GAA and .898 save percentage at T-Mobile Arena in 23 starts, while going 5-2-1 with a 2.30 GAA and .927 SV% in eight starts and nine appearances away from home.

Ullmark is coming off a 5-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on the road Sunday, and he has started nine of the past 10. That’s because Carter Hutton, who started out 6-0-0, hasn’t won since the end of October, going 0-7-2 since. Ullmark is a respectable 14-12-3 with a 2.81 GAA and .911 SV% overall.

Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.

Golden Knights 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 10:15 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Golden Knights 4, Sabres 3

Moneyline (ML)

The GOLDEN KNIGHTS (-167) have actually cashed in just one of their past five tries against the Eastern Conference. However, the Sabres (+140) are just 4-9 in their past 13 games overall. Don’t go crazy, but a small-unit bet on VGK is certainly warranted.

New to sports betting? Every $10 wagered on the Golden Knights ML will profit $5.99 if they win.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

I never like betting favorites on the road on the puck line, although the Golden Knights (-1.5, +165) are tempting. Still, I expect this game to be a close one, and if anything, the Sabres (+1.5, -200) are the way to go. However, they’re too expensive. AVOID.

Over/Under (O/U)

The OVER 5.5 (-143) is the best play on the board. The Over is 5-1 in the past six games overall for the Golden Knights, and 5-1 in their past six as a favorite. The Over has also hit in four of the past five for the Sabres when their playing the fourth game in a 4-in-6 (four games in six games) situation.

Want some action on this matchup? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Tampa Bay Lightning at Buffalo Sabres odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Tuesday’s Tampa Bay Lightning at Buffalo Sabres sports betting odds and lines, with NHL betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Tampa Bay Lightning (20-13-4) and Buffalo Sabres (17-16-7) battle at KeyBank Center at 7 p.m. ET Tuesday. We analyze the Lightning-Sabres sports betting odds and lines, with NHL matchup analysis, picks and tips.

Lightning at Sabres: Projected starting goalies

Andrei Vasilevskiy vs. Linus Ullmark

Vasilevskiy, the defending Vezina Trophy winner, puts his 16-9-2 record, 2.85 goals against average and .908 save percentage on the line against the Sabres. He won his first meeting with Buffalo in Stockholm Nov. 8, stopping 20 of 22 shots in a win. Vasilevskiy also topped the Sabres at home Nov. 25, making 28 saves on 30 shots.

Ullmark is on a personal three-game losing streak which has dropped his season record to 11-10-3. He has a 2.80 GAA and .913 SV%.

Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.

Lightning 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 9:15 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Lightning 5, Sabres 2

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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