Welcome back to NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at the games that are scheduled then offers insight and analysis to help predict who will be victorious in head-to-head matchups. Today we are looking at the game between the Buffalo Sabres vs. Detroit Red Wings. Be sure to check out more NHL Predictions as the 2024-25 season continues.
NHL Predictions
Buffalo Sabres vs. Detroit Red Wings
Time: 7:30 p.m Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
TV: TNT, truTV, MAX, FDSNDET, TVAS
Tonight the Buffalo Sabres (25-32–6) head to the Motor City to play the Detroit Red Wings (30-28-6) for the final time this season. The Red Wings have won the last two match-ups to lead the season series 2-1. They are where the Sabres were hoping to be, fighting for a playoff spot. Will Buffalo be able to spoil Detroit’s chase tonight?
Sabres Snap Six Game Slide
Buffalo had been struggling to find a win going 0-5-1 before beating the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 on Monday. They were lead by Tage Thompson who scored the first and third goals for the Sabres. He has a new centreman after Buffalo acquired Josh Norris at the trade deadline. Norris collected his first point as a Sabre on Thompson’s second goal. Jiri Kulich had been getting a look in that spot before missing the last two games due to illness. Buffalo will hope to have him back tonight.
Goal scoring hasn’t been the Sabres problem this year as they rank in the top half of the league in goals for per game. Unfortunately, keeping pucks out of the net has been. The Sabres have a -21 goal differential. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was strong stopping 32/34 shots in the win against the Oilers so expect him to start again tonight. He will need better defensive play in front of him.
Detroit Down But Not Out
The Red Wings were a fraction of a second away from beating the Ottawa Senators to snap their losing streak on Monday night. With their buzzer beater being ruled no goal Detroit is now winless in their last six games. There were many positives to take away from the game as the Red Wings controlled play and out shot the Sens 49-23. However, moral victories don’t help in a playoff chase and that makes tonight’s two points even more important.
While their penalty kill is frighteningly bad Detroit should have an advantage tonight on the power play. They are top-5 in the league at 28.2%. Dylan Larkin leads the unit with 13 goals and Lucas Raymond leads with 30 power play points. It will be interesting to see who the Winged Wheel start in net. After acquiring Petr Mrazek at the deadline Detroit now has three goalies on their roster. Cam Talbot has lost 4 straight starts, and Alex Lyon has lost his last two starts. Maybe it is time to give Mrazek a look.
Prediction
With the Sabres just crawling out of a slump and the Red Wings still in one the good news is someone has to win tonight. These teams rarely play dull games. Due to spotty defensive play and inconsistent goaltending these match-ups usually have more scoring than most. Whatever teams goaltender has the better performance might just pick up the win. Then there is the special teams battle. A power play goal or two could go a long way in determining the outcome tonight.
Prediction: Red Wings win 5-3
Prop Bets of The Night
Thompson has scored in four of his last five games. He is + 170 as an anytime goal scorer tonight. For the Red Wings, Patrick Kane has 31 points in 31 career games against his hometown team. Take him to recorded 1+ points. The total goals is set at 6.5 with the over paying +102.
Main Photo: Timothy T. Ludwig- Imagn Images
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The post NHL Predictions: Mar.12 Buffalo Sabres vs. Detroit Red Wings appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.