The Buffalo Sabres (32-19-6) and New Jersey Devils (28-27-2) meet in an NHL duel tonight. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. EST at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
The Devils are favored by -1.5 on the puck line, with the over/under set at 6.5 (+110o / -130u). The Devils are a -112 favorite to win outright, while the Sabres are -108 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Sabres vs. Devils predictions and NHL picks.
Sabres vs. Devils Odds, Pick
| Sabres Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -270 | 6.5 110o / -130u | -108 |
| Devils Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +220 | 6.5 110o / -130u | -112 |
- Sabres vs. Devils Spread: Devils -1.5 (+220 ), Sabres +1.5 (-270)
- Sabres vs. Devils Over/Under: 6.5 (+110o / -130u)
- Sabres vs. Devils Moneyline: Sabres -108, Devils -112
Sabres vs. Devils Preview
Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres were one of the lighter-represented teams at the Olympics, sending just two players to Milan. Rasmus Dahlin and Sweden advanced to the quarterfinals, where they were knocked out by teammate Tage Thompson and Team USA.
Heading into the Olympic break, Buffalo was playing some solid hockey. It won five straight at the end of January and went 6-3-1 over its last 10 games. Zooming out even further, it rattled off a 10-game winning streak beginning December 9th, and since that date, the Sabres are 21-5-2 overall.
That said, the underlying numbers over their last 10 games paint a slightly different picture. Buffalo ranks dead last in Expected Goals Against Per 60 (3.77 xGA/60) and 21st in Expected Goals For Per 60 (2.88 xGF/60) during that span.
Its final game before the break was a 5-2 loss to the Penguins, but the Sabres still positioned themselves as buyers of depth at the deadline. Buffalo holds a one-point lead over Boston for the top Wild Card spot and sits just two points back of both Detroit and Montreal in the Atlantic race.
This is a roster that’s clearly emerging, with no team scoring more goals per 60 minutes over the past month. Thompson and Alex Tuch have both been operating around a point-per-game pace, while Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, and Bowen Byram have provided steady contributions from the blue line. That said, it’s unclear if Thompson will suit up tonight after returning from winning gold in Milan.
In net, Alex Lyon has outpaced Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen slightly this season, posting a 9.8 GSAx and .913 SV% compared to Luukkonen’s 1.2 GSAx and .903 SV%. Lyon has also been dominant on the road, going 8-0-0 with a .929 SV% in his last eight road starts, which could come into play if he gets the start tonight.
Luukkonen missed the Olympics with Finland due to a lower-body injury but has been working his way back. Head coach Lindy Ruff said he’ll be available Wednesday, though a starter hasn’t been confirmed.
New Jersey Devils
Jack Hughes turned into a household name outside of the hockey world after his heroic Golden Goal on Sunday. Now, just over 72 hours later, he’s reportedly expected to suit up tonight. It sounds crazy given the whirlwind, but if the past few days proved anything, it’s that Hughes is a gamer despite his injury history.
The Devils were well represented at the Olympics, sending seven players to Milan, but only Simon Nemec for Slovakia and Hughes made it to a medal game.
With the rest-versus-rust debate always looming after a break, New Jersey may actually benefit from a bit of balance based on how the Olympics shaped up for their roster. Now the focus shifts back to New Jersey, where the Devils desperately need a spark.
A quick look at the standings for a refresher. The Devils sit second to last in both the Metropolitan Division and the Eastern Conference. They’re eight points clear of the Rangers but 11 back of Boston for the second Wild Card spot. With 25 games left, they’re not quite buried, but there’s almost no margin for error.
At five-on-five, they rank 27th in Expected Goals Against (120.85 xGA) this season. Overall, they sit 30th in Goals For and 31st in Goals For Above Expected (-25.96).
Not exactly a winning formula.
A bright spot emerging from the Olympics, though, is Jacob Markstrom. He wrestled the starting job away from Filip Gustavsson for Sweden, stopping 87 of 93 shots for a .936 SV% and 1.97 GAA across three games. That’s a stark contrast to his season before the Olympics, when he posted a -10.9 GSAx and .882 SV% in 30 games.
The Devils are on the front end of a back-to-back, so they could opt for Jake Allen tonight, giving Markstrom a little more time to get reacclimated. Allen has fared better in 28 games this season, posting a 5.7 GSAx and .905 SV%.
Sabres vs. Devils Prediction
I think the Devils are one of the teams that actually picked up some momentum from the Olympics. Timo Meier led Switzerland with three goals and four assists, with Nico Hischier finishing second on the team right behind him. Markstrom was excellent for Sweden, even if he doesn't start tonight, and of course, Hughes will be one player to keep an eye on.
Buffalo opened as slight underdogs, but the line has moved to a pick’em in most places. With uncertainty around Thompson’s status and both teams coming off very different types of breaks, I would rather stay away from the moneyline.
The smarter approach is the total. This feels like a game that could start slow while everyone gets their legs back underneath them. I am encouraged by the goaltending options on both sides, and the Devils rank last in GF/60 over their last 10 games at 1.85. Given that, I like the under.
As for Hughes, there is obviously going to be betting interest. If you are looking to play him, I would focus on the power play. The Devils rank eighth in xGF at 5-on-4 over their last 10 games, and Hughes will be a major driver.
He sits seventh in Assists Per 60 Minutes and tied for 10th in primary assists with the man advantage this season. Buffalo has taken its share of penalties this season as well, ranking 13th in the league with 513 penalty minutes.
At 205+, I like Hughes to record a power-play point. He missed the Devils’ final three games before the break, but in the four games before that, he picked one up in three of them.
Pick: Under 6.5 (-130, DraftKings) | Jack Hughes 1+ Power Play Point (+205 bet365)
