The Buffalo Sabres (5-6-4) and Utah Mammoth (9-7-0) meet in the NHL tonight. Puck drop is set for 9:00 p.m. EST at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
The Mammoth are favored by -1.5 on the puck line, with the over/under set at 6.5 (-100o / -120u). The Mammoth are a -190 favorite to win outright, while the Sabres are +155 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Sabres vs. Mammoth predictions and NHL picks.
Sabres vs. Mammoth Odds, Pick
| Sabres Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -162 | 6.5 -102o / -118u | +154 |
| Utah Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +136 | 6.5 -102o / -118u | -185 |
- Sabres vs. Mammoth Spread: Utah -1.5 (+136), Sabres +1.5 (-162)
- Sabres vs. Mammoth Over/Under: 6.5 (-102o / -118u)
- Sabres vs. Mammoth Moneyline: Sabres +154, Utah -185
Sabres vs. Mammoth Preview
Buffalo Sabres
There are some teams that are perpetually in the basement in every league. In the NFL, you have the New York Jets and Las Vegas Raiders, and in the NBA, the Charlotte Hornets and the Washington Wizards.
Meet the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL!
Sorry, Sabres fans, that was rude of me. I’ve always tried to root for you, but it’s hard to be bullish on a franchise that’s in never-ending despair.
Six losses in seven games, though four of them came in overtime, so I guess there’s a silver lining there?
The numbers don’t look very good, though. At 5-on-5 offense, Buffalo is playing to a middling 48.92 xGF% and 2.7 xGA/60 since October 29.
Additionally, not knowing when star defenseman Rasmus Dahlin will return can’t feel great for the overall outlook. Along with Dahlin, Jason Zucker won’t suit up, and even though Zach Benson is traveling, we still don’t know what his timeline looks like.
In goal is where I’m still concerned for Buffalo, as it’s been running career backup Alex Lyon into the bottom of an ice lake. Lyon has played fine with a .912 SV% and 3.9 GSAx, but the drop off is coming, and who actually knows when the Sabres will fully ride the Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen train again?
It’s just an ugly scene for now.
Utah Mammoth
What started as a total heater for the Mammoth is now the inevitable rough stretch.
After starting the season 8-2, Utah has officially lost five of its past six games. However, it has only seen its home ice once since October 23.
So, I can’t be surprised that it started to catch up with the Mammoth.
Even within that timeframe, they’ve played quality hockey, posting a 50.29 xGF% and a 2.62 xGA/60. Typically, you’d like that number to be higher, but given that this stretch has been such a grind, I foresee some more consistency.
The one problem, though, is the lack of production from key players such as Logan Cooley, JJ Peterka and Dylan Guenther. Captain Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz have done their part, but Utah needs more out of its top producers.
Not only that, it seems like Karel Vejmelka has taken a significant step back in his progress. At one point, he was playing like a top goaltender in the league, but since October 23, he’s posted an appalling .848 SV%.
Sabres vs. Mammoth Prediction
Buffalo has done a very solid job of staying alive in games, even on the road, but it has a 0-3-2 record away from home for a reason.
For the Mammoth, I’m curious to see if a bounce-back is on the table. But given the recent losing stretch, they’ve shifted from a sure-thing to an anomaly – especially with Vejmelka’s poor performances.
These teams already faced off last week, with Utah coming out with a 2-1 overtime win.
But given the volatility of both teams, and the scoring power, I don’t think a high-scoring game is off the table here with the total being 6.5.
In six of Buffalo’s past eight games, more than 6.5 goals were scored. For Utah, that number is slightly lower, with four of its past eight. Though two of those eight reached six goals.
I can see why the under is favored due to last week’s game, but I don’t think the over is a bad play here.
Pick: Over 6.5
