Flyers vs Sabres NHL Line & Handicapping
Surging Sabres Look to Kick Flyers When They Are Down
The Buffalo Sabres, a team that was the NHL doormat for the better part of the first half of the season looks to keep their strong recent play going when they host the Philadelphia Flyers Tuesday night. Buffalo has been formidable at home as of late while the Flyers will be looking to snap a two-game losing streak in which they were outscored 10-4.
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Philadelphia (23-19-1-3) at Buffalo (13-26-3-2)
When: 7:30 PM ET, Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Where: First Niagara Center, Buffalo, New York
Broadcast: TSN, NBCSN, CSN-PH
Flyers vs. Sabres Betting Lines
Philadelphia Flyers -1½ +230 -128 Ov 5 -110
Buffalo Sabres +1½ -275 +116 Un 5 +100
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The Philadelphia Flyers have done a terrific job the last month climbing back into the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Flyers had gone 10-2-1 in 13 games before being beaten soundly this weekend in a pair of games.
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The reason for Philadelphia’s recent uptick? Defense and goaltending. During their streak they allowed under two goals per game – a far cry from what they did over the weekend in surrendering a total of 10 goals in 2 games. Ray Emery is the hotter of the two keepers on the roster right now – he is 2-1-0 with a 2.08 GAA and .929 save percentage in his last 4 games while Steve Mason is 1-1-0 with a 3.60 GAA and .838 save percentage in his last two.
Offensively the Flyers remain middle-of-the-pack averaging 2.56 goals per game. Wayne Simmonds has 10 goals in his past 13 games, Andrej Meszaros has four points in three games and Jakub Voracek has 18 points in his last 15 games while the rest of the team has been rather silent. The Flyers could get Matt Read back from injury Tuesday which will certainly help – he has 10 goals and nine assists in 39 games this year.
The Buffalo Sabres have quietly gone 5-3-2 in their last 10 games overall and are 6-0-2 in its last eight at home, giving up two or fewer goals in each contest. Thanks to Ryan Miller and Jhonas Enroth who have been spectacular. Miller figures to get the start Tuesday and is riding a high. Miller has given up one goal in four of his past six starts (6-1-1) including a 2-1 win last time out against Washington. Miller is playing his best hockey in over a year and alone makes the Sabres competitive.
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Buffalo will need Miller to maintain his Hot play – the Sabres continue to be the worst offensive team in the game, The average just 1.61 goals per game. Needless to say there is no Sabres occupying the Hot List – Christian Erhoff is about the closest thing they have and he has two points in his last three games.
Dave’s FREE NHL Betting Prediction
A few trends to consider:
• Over is 5-1-2 in PHI last 8 vs. Eastern Conference.
• Over is 9-2-2 in PHI last 13 road games.
• Over is 12-4-3 in PHI last 19 overall.
• Under is 16-6-4 in BUF last 26 home games.
• BUF are 13-31 in their last 44 overall.
• Under is 29-13-9 in BUF last 51 overall.
• PHI are 8-2 in the last 10 meetings.
• Over is 25-10-1 in the last 36 meetings.
The Flyers downfall in their last two games has been their inability to keep the puck out of their own goal but against the Sabres it is unlikely that they will have much of an issue doing just that. Buffalo is brutal offensively – if Phili can hit their season average in goals, it will be enough for them to post victory. There is some optimism in New York with the recent play of the Sabres but to say that they are back to being formidable is a stretch at best. Phili won the only meeting of the two clubs this season 4-1 – expect more of the same Tuesday night.
Pick: Philadelphia Flyers -128
