Tuesday NHL Odds, Picks, Prediction: Carolina Hurricanes vs. Buffalo Sabres Betting Preview
Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images. Pictured: Carolina Hurricanes alternate captain Sebastian Aho.
- The Sabres are heavy home underdogs on Tuesday against the Hurricanes.
- Buffalo has been playing improved hockey recently, but is the recent success sustainable?
- Nick Martin breaks down the matchup and shares his best bet below.
Hurricanes vs. Sabres Odds
| Hurricanes Odds | -250 |
| Sabres Odds | +200 |
| Over/Under | 6 |
| Time | 7 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
| Odds via BetMGM. Get up-to-the-minute NHL Odds here. | |
The Hurricanes will continue their pursuit of a second consecutive Metropolitan Division title Tuesday in Buffalo. The Sabres have been in a considerably scrappy run of play however and have been far from a pushover lately.
Can the Sabres play the role of spoiler at home on Tuesday?
Hurricanes Defense Thriving
Carolina continues to play like a true cup contender and features three lines that should carry much more of the play Tuesday in Buffalo.
The Hurricanes have the league's top Penalty Kill and have done a great job of limiting shots on goal. This has played a significant role in both of their goaltenders having excellent bounce-back seasons this year. They have clearly been one of more elite defensive clubs this season and have a 2.79 Expected Goals Against rating over the last 10 games.
A 56.95 Expected Goals rate in that span illustrates the consistency we are used to seeing from Rod Brind'Amour's deep and well rounded team. Expect them to come in and take care of business here as they look to lock up home ice in round one.
Is the Recent Sabres Form For Real?
The Sabres have been in far better form of late than we have seen much of the season. They put together a memorable win Friday over Nashville in honor of legendary Sabres commentator Rick Jeanneret.
You can see the buy-in from many of the Sabres' young players, and with a ton of players under 25 making a difference, the future looks bright for Sabres fans.
But even over this improved run of play, the Sabres hold just a 46.55 Expected Goals Rate over their last 10 games. Considering the less-than-stellar goaltending most nights from Dustin Tokarski and Craig Anderson, we should see some regression down the stretch. Anderson, who has a -4.9 Goals Saved Above Expected rating this season, will likely get the start here.
Hurricanes vs. Sabres Pick
With complete respect to the Sabres' vastly improved play, the Hurricanes should control this one comfortably and create enough chances to cover this puck-line.
The Sabres have mainly hung around in contests where the offense scored efficiently, but it's quite unlikely we see the them create many quality looks against the Hurricanes.
Much of Carolina's recent improved scoring has come via the Power Play as well, but they will face one of the better Penalty Killing units in recent history here.
Should the Sabres receive yet another less-than-stellar goaltending performance here, it should be quite troublesome. It's a pretty safe bet that the Canes will generate 30 or more shots in this one, and the Hurricanes' ability to generate shots should be especially effective here.
Something like 4-2 Carolina is what I am imagining here, and at +105, I am happy to back a Canes win by two or more and would play the Canes -1.5 down to -110 odds.
Pick: Carolina -1.5 (+105 | Play to -110)
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