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Tag Archives: Buffalo Sabres
NHL Eastern Conference Favourites Struggle Early
In the Eastern Conference the perennial contenders are struggling to get to the top but it is always a close battle between the top teams in this divisions.
Opening the season as the 10-1 second favourite to win the Stanley Cup the Washington Capitals they currently are second in their division between a surprising Florida Panthers team. Since opening day the Capitals odds have actually gone down and currently sit at 6-1.
Starting their season as a long shot at 125-1 the Florida Panthers’ odds remain unchanged despite leading their division. The Panthers’ record places them as the 12th to 13th best team in the NHL and leading the division they are fifth best in the Eastern Conference at the time of this writing.
One of the biggest movers in the futures department the Buffalo Sabres opened up the season as a 30-1 shot to win the Stanley Cup but now they have a 10 to 1 shot to hoist the Cup this season. At the moment the Sabres are not in the NHL playoffs but there is plenty of action on this team early.
Although they lead the Eastern Conference in points the New York Rangers are getting no love from the books. Opening as a 30-1 long shot, they remain 30-1 in the season. Looks like doubts linger in the Big Apple.
Since the season began the Ottawa Senators’ odds have skyrocketed. Opening at a healthy 65-1 shot to capture Lord Stanley’s Cup their odds have risen to 150-1, a move that just makes little sense.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Philadelphia Flyers – NHL Match Preview
On Tuesday night at the Wells Fargo Center, the second seeded Philadelphia Flyers will take on the Buffalo Sabres in NHL game seven.
Philadelphia would seem to have the edge at home, once down 3-2. But this season, Buffalo played better on the road. It would help the Flyers’ cause, if Chris Pronger is healthy enough to play full time. In Game 6, he played only on the power play. Since the Sabres’ power play has been better than theirs, the Flyers want to stay out of the penalty box. Philadelphia wants to neutralize Thomas Vanek, Buffalo’s most dangerous scorer, and also must deal with Derek Roy’s return.
Philadelphia’s Brian Boucher scored 3-1, 2.12 goals against average, .935 save percentage and Buffalo’s Ryan Miller scored 3-3, 2.61, .925. Even though Boucher’s solid performance in Game 6 relief would seem to give him the edge to be the Game 7 starter the Flyers have used three goalies. The Sabres have the edge in net in theory.
In the series Buffalo center Brad Boyes, picked up to help the offense, hasn’t registered a point. Philadelphia, C Jeff Carter (knee) won’t play Game 7. Buffalo, Tim Connolly will sit out after being pushed headfirst into the boards in Game 6; Roy (quadriceps) will play for the first time since December, will return to action; RW Jason Pominville (leg) is expected to miss the game; D Shoane Morrison, RW Mike Grier and RW Patrick Kaleta are day to day.
For the Sabres to win, Miller will need to be their best player. For this match, in NHL betting odds, the over is 1.77 and the under is 2.09 while the total is at 1.5.
NHL Match Preview: Ottawa Senators vs. Buffalo Sabres
The Ottawa Senators, coming off a 2-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, come into Buffalo to face the 39-22 Sabres and are standing at a very solid 39-30. Both teams cannot afford to lose this matchup as they are making a final push for the playoffs. Senators’ goalie, Brian Elliott, will be key for Ottawa, who look to capitalize on a two game win streak. On the other hand, in the NHL Eastern division, Buffalo is sitting rather pretty at 3rd place. Needless to say, both Ottawa and Buffalo need Lady Luck on their side.
The Senators will have to depend on Daniel Alfredsson, who scored against Philadelphia in his last game and the captain Jason Spezza, who is having a lackluster year. One can bet that the Ottawa will be ready for the Sabers come the 26th and they cannot afford to slip up with Brian Elliott riding a two-game shutout streak.
If the Sabers, slightly favorite over all NHL betting lines, who remain behind the Devils and the Capitals in the standings, expect to beat Ottawa, they will need strong performances from goalie Ryan Miller, who ranks 6th in the NHL in wins. However, allowing three goals in three of his past five games, Miller has struggled as of late. He will certainly have his hands full come Friday when Ottawa comes into town.