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The Buffalo Sabres (4-5-0) play the first game of a home-and-home set with the Philadelphia Flyers (4-4-1) Wednesday at Wells Fargo Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (TNT). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Sabres vs. Flyers odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Sabres posted what is easily their best win of the season last time out, beating the Colorado Avalanche 4-0 on Sunday at KeyBank Center as heavy underdogs (+171) on home ice as the Under (7) cashed. Buffalo has managed a 1-2-0 record in 3 games on the road, suffering a 5-4 loss in New Jersey on Friday night.
The Flyers were on the short end of a 3-2 home loss against the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday night, and Philly has dropped 2 straight on home ice after winning its 1st 3 at WFC.
The road team has won 3 of the past 4 meetings in this series, including 2 of 3 last season, with the underdog cashing in 6 of the past 8 meetings overall. The Over is on an amazing 9-1 in the past 10 in this series.
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Sabres at Flyers odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 5:56 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Sabres -111 (bet $111 to win $100) | Flyers -108 (bet $108 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Sabres +1.5 (-255) | Flyers -1.5 (+205)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -142 | U: +116)
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Sabres at Flyers projected goalies
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (3-2-1, 2.72 GAA, .905 SV%) vs. Carter Hart (3-1-0, 1.33 GAA, .961 SV%)
Luukkonen turned aside all 23 of the shots he faced against the Avalanche on Sunday, and it’s hard to imagine Sabres coach Don Granato turning to Devon Levi (lower body) if he is ready. UPL has done a good job steadying things in the crease while Levi and Eric Comrie (lower body) have been on the shelf.
Hart kicked aside 29 of the 32 shots he faced against the Hurricanes last time out, but the offense provided him with just 2 goals of support, all in the 1st period. He has allowed 3 or fewer goals in each of his past 5 outings, and all 4 starts on home ice.
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Sabres at Flyers picks and predictions
Prediction
Sabres 3, Flyers 2
The SABRES (-111) are worth playing in the front end of the home-and-home set. The road team picked up 2 victories in 3 meetings last season, and Luukkonen is brimming with confidence after posting a shutout against the high-octane Avalanche last time out.
The Flyers (-108) have been quite consistent, with Hart alternating losses and wins in each of his past 4 starts.
While the Sabres are just 6-16 in the past 22 skates in Philly, Buffalo is a healthy 6-2 in the past 8 meetings overall in the series.
Puck line/Against the spread
The Sabres +1.5 (-255) will cost you over 2 1/2 times your potential return if you would like a little insurance. That’s way too much risk for not enough reward. If you like Buffalo, or Philadelphia, for that matter, just play it straight up.
PASS.
Over/Under
UNDER 6.5 (+116) at plus-money is worth a look, although know you’ll be going against some serious trends.
The Over has cashed in 9 of the past 10 meetings in this series. The Over is also 3-1-1 in the past 5 games on the road for the Sabres, while going 9-4 in the past 13 when playing on 2 days of rest.
For the Flyers, the Over has hit in 4 in a row against the Atlantic Division, although there is a slight 5-4 edge to the Under overall this season.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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