Unless things turn around quickly, it looks like the Buffalo Sabres will miss the NHL postseason for the 13th season in a row.
Luckily for them, the even worse Chicago Blackhawks are in town, and NHL odds have pegged the home side as the favorite for tonight after the game was canceled last night due to weather. The total is also sitting at 6.5, but do these teams possess enough offensive punch to warrant it? Even with the delay giving these teams an extra day of rest, I don't think so.
Find out why in my free NHL picks for the Blackhawks vs. Sabres on January 18.
Blackhawks vs Sabres odds
Blackhawks vs Sabres predictions
Following last year's breakout season from Tage Thompson, the future looked bright for the Buffalo Sabres. Fast forward to the present day, and Buffalo once again finds itself near the basement of the Atlantic Division.
Surprisingly enough, the offense is worse than the defense — although not by much. The Sabres are scoring just 2.95 goals per game and have topped the four-goal mark just once in their last five outings. For comparison, Buffalo had the third-most goals last season and it was its defensive play that led to its demise.
A big reason for this is the lack of production from Buffalo's top stars. Thompson, Jeff Skinner, and Alex Tuch have all shown regression, while Casey Middlestadt leads the team with just 38 points in 44 games. One thing that has improved however is the defense, with the Sabres limiting more shots than last year and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen improving both his GAA (3.61 to 2.77) and SV% (.891 to .906).
With things going not as planned for the Sabres, they'll appreciate this cupcake spot against the Chicago Blackhawks. Only the Sharks have netted fewer goals than Chicago, and things have gotten even worse since Connor Bedard went down with a broken jaw.
In the five games since that injury, the Blackhawks are putting up just 1.8 goals per game. Of the two matchups they eclipsed more than one goal, one of those was a 2-1 shootout victory over — you guessed it — San Jose.
Chicago isn't exactly sporting the best defense in the league either (3.59 goals against per game) but the Sabres don't have the firepower to get to seven goals by themselves... and the Bedard-less Blackhawks are in no condition to lend a helping hand. With Luukkonen in net tonight and Buffalo playing in two straight Unders, 6.5 is too high for my liking.
My best bet: Under 6.5 (-139 at PROLINE+)
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Covers may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook or betting site.
Blackhawks vs Sabres same-game parlay
Under 6.5
Sabres moneyline
Buffalo's offense is nowhere near what it used to be and Chicago has zero energy on offense right now. Although they may not score enough to get this Over the total, the Sabres will do enough to get the win.
They have the better goaltender and more than enough pieces to break down Chicago. The Blackhawks are thinking about who they're going to put around Bedard in the upcoming draft at this point and they won't have enough juice in the tank to keep up in Buffalo.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Ontario sports bettors: Play your way with PROLINE+
Ontario-owned and operated, PROLINE+ has a robust market offering at its disposal and reinvests 100% of its profits back into the province — join today!
Blackhawks vs Sabres moneyline and Over/Under analysis
The Sabres opened up around -280 favorites and can be found for as short as -310 depending on where you're looking. As expected, the one-day delay didn't sway the market in any direction. PROLINE+ has one of the better prices at -263, although that's still an insane amount of juice.
As for the total, the majority of books have this total at a flat 6.0, but there are a few rogue 6.5s out there if you're willing to pay for the Under. Chicago has an O/U record of 17-25-2 this season while Buffalo's is 18-24-2.
Blackhawks vs Sabres betting trend to know
The Sabres have hit the first-period moneyline in 39 of their last 84 games (+10.90 Units / 11% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Blackhawks vs. Sabres.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Covers may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook or betting site.
Blackhawks vs Sabres game info
| Location: | KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY |
| Date: | Thursday, January 18, 2024 |
| Puck drop: | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | NBCS-Chicago, MSG-Buffalo |
Blackhawks vs Sabres latest injuries
Stay updated with the latest picks, odds, and news! Tap the 
to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.
