The Vegas Golden Knights are struggling at home and now have to host the red-hot Buffalo Sabres on Monday. Buffalo will be trying to win its fourth game in a row, and third on the road. Vegas has been dreadful at home recently, skating to a 1-5 record in its last six at T-Mobile Arena.
Can it finally get home ice advantage back or will Buffalo add to its home blues? Continue reading for our free NHL betting picks and predictions for the Sabres vs Golden Knights on December 19.
Sabres vs Golden Knights best odds
Sabres vs Golden Knights picks and predictions
The struggles for the Vegas Golden Knights at home continued on Saturday when they were clobbered by the New York Islanders, 5-2, marking their second-straight loss at home.
It is a riddle that has puzzled Vegas head coach Bruce Cassidy, telling the Las Vegas Review Journal he thought it was a matter of pressing too much.
“At home, that’s been our problem is that we’re trying to make plays against every team that comes in here early in the game, and they’re ready to play and it’s not working out,” Cassidy said. “That’s a mindset that I’ve got to get across to these guys at home, that we have to manage the puck better.”
The second of its four-game homestand is Monday and it couldn’t come with a worse opponent. The Buffalo Sabres are riding a three-game win streak, with two of them coming on the road.
When the two teams last met, it was a homecoming for former Sabres' star Jack Eichel. The 26-year-old put on a clinic, scoring three goals and an assist in a 7-4 victory. This time around, however, Eichel is out with a lower-body injury. The team might also be without defenseman Shea Theodore, who is questionable with a leg injury.
The team did get good news regarding defenseman Alex Pietrangelo being back after nine games. Having Pietrangelo is nice, but missing Eichel and possibly Theodore could be a big negative. Eichel was leading the team in goals with 13 before he got injured, while Theodore is third on the team in assists with 18.
Buffalo has a scoring machine in Tage Thompson. The right winger has 49 points (25 goals, 24 assists), good for third in the NHL. Thompson had a goal and two assists in Saturday’s 5-2 victory over the Arizona Coyotes, the seventh game this season with at least three points.
Like the Islanders on Saturday, the Sabres are big underdogs to the Golden Knights. I am going to continue to fade Vegas until it proves me wrong.
My best bet: Sabres moneyline (+160 at PointsBet)
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Sabres vs Golden Knights moneyline analysis
With the home record of the Vegas Golden Knights so mediocre, it’s shocking they are such heavy favorites on Monday. Vegas is getting anywhere from -175 to -195.
I don’t see how that is warranted. It has been dreadful at home and if the New York Islanders — a team similar in calibre to the Sabres — can come in and hang five goals on the Golden Knights, I don’t see why Buffalo can’t do the same.
Especially since the Sabres lead the NHL in goals scored, averaging 3.97. The Knights are a respectable 12th but don’t want to get into a shootout with Buffalo.
The Golden Knights lead the league in goals away from home with 70, averaging 4.12 goals on the road. At T-Mobile Arena, the goal average drops to 2.40 — the worst in the NHL. They have scored two or fewer goals at home in their last four.
So with Vegas 1-5 at home and the Sabres 4-0 in their last four against the Western Conference and 7-3 in their last 10 against the Pacific Division, I would lean on Buffalo. With the Sabres getting +160 it makes the decision to back them that much easier.
Sabres vs Golden Knights Over/Under analysis
The total on this game opened at 6.5 and hasn’t budged. The onus is going to be on Buffalo to get this game to the Over. It is averaging nearly four goals a game and in its last three games has scored five, four, and six goals.
Not only does it have the most goals scored average at 3.97, but it is also second in both power-play conversion rate at 31.9%.
The Golden Knights have seen their penalty kill unit slip in recent weeks with the absence of Theodore and Pietrangelo. They are 24th in the league on the penalty kill, surrendering goals 25% of the time.
This game should see plenty of offense, even with the Golden Knights struggling to score at home. I think Vegas is going to make it a point to score more than two goals and if Buffalo hits its average, the total should go Over.
Sabres vs Golden Knights betting trend to know
The Sabres are 5-2 in their last seven, including winning their last three. Find more NHL betting trends for Sabres vs Golden Knights.
Sabres vs Golden Knights game info
| Location: | T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV |
| Date: | Monday, December 19, 2022 |
| Puck drop: | 10:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | MSG-B, ATTSN |
