Flames vs Sabres Prediction

pickdawgz.com

19 October 2023

The Calgary Flames will play the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. Calgary has lost two games in a row, while Buffalo got their first win of the season last time out.

Flames Preview

The Calgary Flames are 1-1-1 this season after they lost to the Washington Capitals by a score of 3-2 in a shootout. Calgary led 2-0 in the first period, but they couldn’t generate much offense after that point. The Flames out shot Washington by a total of 40-23 and went 1-5 on the power play in the loss. Calgary opened the season with a win against Winnipeg, but they have lost two straight to Pittsburgh and Washington. The Calgary Flames are scoring 3.00 goals per game and they are allowing 3.33 goals against per game, while going 27.3% on the power play and 100% on the penalty kill. Noah Hanifin has led the Flames this year with four assists and six shots on goal. The projected starting goalie for Calgary is Dan Vladar, who would be making his first appearance of the season.

Sabres Preview

The Buffalo Sabres are 1-2-0 this year after they defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning by a score of 3-2 in overtime in their last game. Buffalo led 2-0 in the first period, but allowed Tampa Bay to tie the game with about 10 seconds left, before winning early in overtime. The Sabres out shot TB by a total of 31-25 and went 4-4 on the penalty kill in the win. Buffalo lost their first two games of the season against the Rangers and the Islanders, but got the big bounce back win over Tampa Bay. The Buffalo Sabres are scoring 2.00 goals per game and they are allowing 3.33 goals against per game, while going 0.0% on the power play and 90.9% on the penalty kill. Rasmus Dahlin has led the Sabres this season with two assists and nine shots on goal. The projected starting goalie for Buffalo is Devon Levi, who is 1-2-0 this season with a 3.00 goals against average and a .890 save percentage.

Buffalo Sabres Team Facts

The road team has won nine of the last 10 games between the Flames and Sabres.
The road team has covered the puck line in each of the last five games between the Flames and Sabres.
The Sabres have lost the second period in five of their last six games against Pacific Division opponents.
The 'Over 1.5 Goals Period 2' market has hit in 17 of the Sabres' last 18 games following an overtime win.

Calgary Flames Team Facts

The Flames have won each of their last five games at KeyBank Center.
The Flames have failed to cover the puck line in 17 of their last 20 games after coming off overtime.
The Flames have lost the first period in each of their last four games after coming off overtime.
The 'Over 2.5 Goals Period 1' market has hit in four of the Flames' last six games following a shootout win.

Buffalo Sabres Player Prop Facts

Dylan Cozens has scored a goal in five of the Sabres' last six games against Pacific Division opponents.
Dylan Cozens has recorded at least one point in each of the Sabres' last nine games against Pacific Division opponents at KeyBank Center.
Rasmus Dahlin has recorded at least one assist in seven of the Sabres' last eight games against Pacific Division opponents at KeyBank Center.
Casey Mittelstadt has the highest Plus/Minus for the Sabres this season (+3).

Calgary Flames Player Prop Facts

Nazem Kadri has scored a goal in each of his last three appearances at KeyBank Center.
Jonathan Huberdeau has recorded at least one point in each of his last 12 appearances against the Sabres at KeyBank Center.
Jonathan Huberdeau has recorded at least one assist in 11 of his last 12 appearances at KeyBank Center.
Adam Ruzicka has the equal-most Power Play Points for the Flames this season (2).

Matchup/League Facts

The Buffalo Sabres ranks T1st in the league for power play goals against this season (1).
The Buffalo Sabres ranks T1st in the league in short handed goals allowed this season (1).
The Calgary Flames ranks T1st in the league for power play goals against this season (0).
The Calgary Flames ranks T1st in the league in short handed goals allowed this season (0).

Pick

Calgary comes into this game really struggling offensively in their last two games, as they have only scored two goals in each of those losses. Buffalo has only scored six goals in three games, but they were able to finally get a win in their last game. Both teams have not had a ton of luck putting the puck in the net and I think we are going to see a lower scoring game here. I like the under in this matchup.