Free NHL Hockey Prediction: Sabres vs Panthers Odds
Weekly NHL betting sees the Buffalo Sabres taking on the Florida Panthers Thursday October 15th at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida. Cappers Picks provides complimentary handicapping picks on all NHL Hockey season long so stay tuned for more FREE NHL hockey predictions.
Buffalo Sabres (1-2-0) vs. Florida Panthers (2-1-0)
Date: Thursday, October 15th
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Venue: BB&T Center
NHL Hockey Moneyline Odds: Florida -193
NHL Hockey Puck Line Odds: Not posted at press time
NHL Betting Total: 5.5
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After three straight home games to open the season, the Buffalo Sabres travel to Florida to take on Roberto Luongo and the high-scoring Florida Panthers.
The Panthers are looking to leave with a home win after playing back-to-back games on the road.
Buffalo
Led by rookie sensation Jack Eichel, the Buffalo Sabres come into this game looking for their second-straight win of the year. Eichel tallied an unassisted goal in Buffalo’s 4-2 over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, and the team is hopeful that more goals will follow. Captain Brian Gionta could make his season debut in this one, but nothing has been confirmed yet.
After a disastrous 2014-15 season where they finished with the NHL’s worst record, the Sabres are hoping to turn things around this year. Eichel has gotten off to a quick start by scoring two goals in his first three NHL games, and the Sabres will look to Chad Johnson to stop Florida from putting the puck in the net, a task the Panthers have done frequently during this young NHL season.
In order to best the Panthers in their first road game of the season, the Sabres must find a way to score some goals themselves. Buffalo is only averaging 2 goals per game so far and has a goal differential of -3. That has to change if the Sabres really want to move in the right direction.
Florida
After getting shutout to the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday, the Panthers answered the bell the following night by defeating the Carolina Panthers 4-1. Florida comes into this game having scored 12 goals while only allowing two.
The Panthers destroyed the Flyers 7-1 in their home opener Saturday night, and they’ll look to keep things rolling against a Sabres team that has a hard time keeping the puck out of the net. Florida was 4-0-1 against Buffalo last season, and Roberto Luongo won all four of his starts against the Sabres while posting a goals against average of 1.25 and a save percentage of .949.
Luongo is expected to get the start against the Sabres again, and his 1.01 goals against average and save percentage of .972 coming in have to have the Panthers feeling good about their chances.
Four Panthers have already notched two goals this year, including future Hall-of-Famer Jaromir Jagr. They haven’t had a problem putting the puck in the net thus far, and that trend should continue with Johnson scheduled to get the start from the Sabres.
NHL Hockey Handicapping Trends
Panthers were 4-0-1 against the Sabres last season
Sabres were 14-27 at home last season
Panthers were 21-20 at home last season
Panthers are 13-25 in their last 36 games when scoring 4 goals or more the previous game.
Sabres are 9-24 as a road team over the last three years when the total is 5.5.
Free NHL Hockey Prediction
The Panthers are only allowing 1 goal per game, which is good enough for 3rd-best in the NHL. Their 3.67 goals per game is tied for 5th in the NHL, so they’re getting the job done at both ends of the ice.
The Sabres will be better this year, though they are still in for a long season. This game included.
4* Free NHL Betting Pick: Florida -193
The NHL season is only three games in for these two teams, but the Panthers have looked much better so far. It’s a lot of juice to lay, but it’s a pick that makes perfect sense.
NHL Free Score Prediction: Florida 5- Buffalo 1
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