Buffalo Sabres (19-15-2) vs Minnesota Wild (22-13-2)
Game Info: Saturday, January 7, 2023 at 7:00 pm (KeyBank Center)
Betting Odds: Buffalo Sabres +131 / Minnesota Wild -161 --- Over/Under: 6.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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KeyBank Center. When these two teams faced off in March it was the Sabres that secured the 5-4 victory.
The Wild come into this game with a 22-13-6 record overall and they have gone 10-6-1 away from home. On Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Wild scored five goals and secured the victory. Kirill Kaprizov had a strong game finishing with six shots on goal and two goals. The Wild are averaging 3.19 goals while their defense is giving up 2.76 goals per game. In this game if the defense is good, they should be in good shape to secure the victory. Kaprizov has scored 22 goals and added 25 assists so far this season.
On the other side of this matchup is the Sabres who sit with a 19-15-2 record overall and they have gone 8-8-2 at home. On Tuesday against the Washington Capitals, it took overtime, but they were able to secure the 5-4 victory. Tage Thompson scored three goals and added one assist. The Sabres are an elite offensive team, but their defense has been an issue. The Sabres are averaging 3.94 goals while their defense is giving up 3.89 goals per game. The offense is top ranked in hockey. Tage Thompson has scored 30 goals and added 25 assists so far this season. The offense will need to be good, but the defense is also going to need to slowdown the wild.
The Sabres are 7-1 in their last games. The Wild are 4-0 in their last four games on Saturday. The under is 6-1-1 in the Wild’s last eight games against the Atlantic. The under is 8-2-1 in the Wild’s last 11 games. The over is 4-1-1 in the Sabres last six home games.
The WIld looked impressive with their defense in the last game, and they are going to find similar success in this game. Even against a good offense, the Wild are going to give up only a goal or two and that is going to be enough to get the job done. Look for a 4-2 or 5-2 type of game and the Wild will secure the win.