Buffalo Sabres vs Dallas Stars Odds

The Dallas Stars (28-13-7) vie for their fourth shutout win in five games when they play host to the Buffalo Sabres (23-19-3) in Monday’s NHL action. The Stars are coming off back-to-back 4-0 wins, most recently blanking the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday to kick off an eight-game homestand, and remained deadlocked with the Winnipeg Jets atop the Central Division standings.

Meanwhile, the Sabres hit the road after sweeping a brief two-game homestand by routing the Anaheim Ducks 6-3 on Saturday after losing five of their previous six outings. The Sabres are an impressive 9-3 in their past 12 road contests but have picked up just one win in nine visits to Dallas since 2009.

Latest Betting Notes: Sabres

Consecutive markers from Victor Olofsson during a three-goal third period proved to be the difference in Saturday’s win over the Ducks. With those goals, Olofsson has now scored in three straight games while racking up six goals and seven points over his past seven outings.

But the Sabres’ scoring remains spotty. Overall, this team has averaged just 2.88 goals per game during its current 3-4-1 run. And apart from Saturday’s victory, they have seen recent success come by the narrowest of margins, with four of their past six wins coming in overtime.

Goals have also come at a premium during the team’s head-to-head slide in Dallas, where they have averaged just 1.67 goals per game during their 1-8 slide while getting shut out on three occasions. However, Buffalo shooters have emerged as road warriors of late, averaging 4.42 goals during their 9-3 run, extending a steady 11-5 run for the OVER.

Latest Betting Notes: Stars 

The Stars established their dominance early in Saturday’s triumph over the Coyotes, seizing a 3-0 lead in the first period for the second time in as many games on their way to a second straight 4-0 win. Dallas also jumped out to an early 3-0 advantage in Thursday’s win over Los Angeles and has limited opponents to just 2.00 goals per game over its past 10 outings.

After Tyler Seguin set the tone by opening the scoring with a pair of goals in the win over the Kings, it was Radek Faksa’s turn to tally a pair of goals in the opening frame on Saturday night. After failing to find the back of the net in 25 straight games, Faksa has now potted three goals over his past three outings.

While the complementary scoring and recent stingy play are welcome, the Stars have also been susceptible to letdowns. Sandwiched between their recent shutout wins is a 5-3 loss in San Jose in which they blew an early 3-0 lead, as well as a 6-5 loss to Calgary last weekend that was not as close as the score indicates. 

Sabres Player Prop: Tage Thompson First Goal Scorer (+950)

It isn’t easy to overstate the significant role Tage Thompson has played during the Sabres’ current run of success on the road. Thompson has scored 14 goals in his past 12 road contests, with three of his past five goals on the road coming in the first 20 minutes. While Thompson has potted just one goal in his past seven outings overall, his reliability on the road adds to the value of the +950 odds he sports to open the scoring on Monday night.

Stars Player Prop: Jamie Benn Anytime Goal Scorer (+260)

Jamie Benn has maintained the steady pace that has marked his renaissance season with three goals and two assists during a five-game points streak. Benn is also enjoying a seven-game points streak when playing on home ice and has also potted seven goals over his past seven home appearances against the Sabres. Accordingly, the big veteran winger offers solid value as a +260 wager to score sometime during Monday night’s matchup.