Free NHL Hockey Prediction: Sabres vs Lightning NHL Odds
Looking for Buffalo Sabres vs. Tampa Bay Lightning free hockey plays & NHL Odds? NHL betting sees the Sabres taking on the Lightning on Thursday January 12th at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NHL Hockey matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily NHL hockey predictions.
(16-15-9) Buffalo Sabres vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (19-19-4)
Date: Thursday January 12th
Time: 7:30PM EST
Venue: Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida
NHL Hockey Moneyline Odds: Lightning -160
NHL Hockey Puck Line Odds: Off
NHL Betting Total: 5.5
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Buffalo is coming off two solid offensive performances against Winnipeg and then against Philadelphia on Tuesday. The Sabres will look to continue this trend and get a win against a struggling Tampa Bay squad.
Sitting 6th in the Atlantic Division, the Lightning have just one win in the last six games, and desperately need to string together a bunch of wins to move up in the Atlantic.
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo offense has looked slightly better in the past couple of games, but it’s not going to be enough to just do it for a couple of games at a time.
The Sabres still rank 28th in the league in goals scored, and haven’t even broken 100 goals on the season yet.
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Center Jack Eichel continues to improve and has really found his form in the 18 games he’s played since returning from injury. In his 18 games, he has eight goals and six assists, two and one in his last five games.
Right winger Kyle Okposo has really started to play well, also. In his last five games, he has three goals and two assists, including one of each against a very tough Chicago Blackhawks squad.
This gives him 12 goals and 15 assists for the season.
If Buffalo is going to start generating offense game in and game out, these forwards need to be great for more than just a game or two at a time. To beat Tampa, the Sabres have to keep the puck in the offensive zone and score.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa is yet another team that has really been unlucky on the injury front this season.
Of course, the big one was captain Steven Stamkos all the way back in November, but another big injury came before the end of 2016, when Ben Bishop was put on the injured reserve list with a lower body injury.
The starting goaltender, Ben Bishop, may or may not play against Buffalo. His status is uncertain and I would imagine that it would have been announced at this point if he was actually going to play.
Tampa has already had a very hard time stopping the puck this season.
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The Lightning rank 26th in the NHL in goals allowed (127) and will have to try and change that stat line without the starting netminder.
Luckily, the Lightning still have solid offense. Right winger Nikita Kucherov is having a great year, all things considered, and has 16 goals and 23 assists.
He has three and three in his last five games.
NHL Betting Trends:
- The Total has gone OVER in four of Tampa’s last five games
- Buffalo is 2-2-1 in the last five games on the road
Free Buffalo Sabres vs. Tampa Bay Lightning NHL Hockey Prediction:
Buffalo has played much better recently and has a solid defense. Tampa does not. If the Sabres can contain Tampa’s offense, I like Buffalo to take the win.
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Buffalo gets the W on the road.
NHL Free Score Prediction: Buffalo 3 – Tampa Bay 2
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