Another Big Two Points Available for Sabres in Detroit

The Buffalo Sabres [32-30-5] are in Detroit to face the Red Wings [33-27-6] for the second time this week. The Sabres trounced the Red Wings at home on Tuesday, 7-3. Today, a win for the Sabres and a loss by the New York Islanders, who they just beat on Thursday, will put Buffalo within one point of the final Wild Card spot.

Must Read: Luukkonen Shuts Out Islanders in 4-0 Sabres Victory

How to Watch

Gametime: 12:30 p.m. ET

Location: Little Caesars Arena (Detroit, MI)

TV: NHL Network; Sportsnet 1; MSG (Buffalo); BSDET (Detroit)

Stream: MSG+

Radio: WGR550 (Buffalo)

The Sabres

The recent surge by the Sabres has quickly become the top story in the NHL. Faced with a week of crucial opponents to beat, the Sabres have taken care of business in convincing fashion. Tuesday’s 7-3 win over the Red Wings and Thursday’s 4-0 win over the Islanders were statement games, not just points in the standings.

Something has finally clicked in front of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Head coach Don Granato has found the pieces that fit the puzzle.

Zemgus Girgensons with Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch? Natural fit.

A new shutdown line of Jordan Greenway, Dylan Cozens, and Zach Benson? Dominant.

Newcomer Bowen Byram on the top pair with Rasmus Dahlin? Smooth transition.

Of course, the Sabres will have to continue to buzz against the Red Wings if they want to stay in contention for the playoffs. The rematch against Detroit today will be another key hurdle in a race for eighth.

The Red Wings

One word to describe the Red Wings currently is “floundering”. Detroit has lost seven straight without their top center, Dylan Larkin. The goaltending has struggled lately, and the Red Wings hope James Reimer can perform adequately versus the Sabres. He’s getting the nod over their usual starter, Alex Lyon.

If the Red Wings are going to pull off a win, they’ll likely have to solve Buffalo’s impressive penalty kill. Detroit is a top-10 powerplay in the league, thanks in large part to the mid-season signing of Patrick Kane.

Injury Report

Buffalo

• Jack Quinn (Lower Body) Out Indefinitely [IR]
• Mattias Samuelsson (Upper Body) Out For Season [IR]

Detroit

• Ville Husso (Lower Body) Out
• Dylan Larkin (Lower Body) Out

Projected Lines

Buffalo Sabres

Zemgus Girgensons – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch

Jordan Greenway – Dylan Cozens – Zach Benson

Jeff Skinner – Peyton Krebs – JJ Peterka

Eric Robinson – Tyson Jost – Victor Olofsson

Bowen Byram – Rasmus Dahlin

Owen Power – Henri Jokiharju

Jacob Bryson – Connor Clifton

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (Confirmed)

Detroit Red Wings

Alex DeBrincat – J.T. Compher – Patrick Kane

David Perron – Joe Veleno – Lucas Raymond

Michael Rasmussen – Andrew Copp – Christian Fischer

Robby Fabbri – Austin Czarnik – Daniel Sprong

Shayne Gostisbehere – Moritz Seider

Ben Chiarot – Jeff Petry

Olli Maatta – Justin Holl

James Reimer (Confirmed)

Lineup Source: Ansar Khan, MLive.com

Goalie Source: Ansar Khan, MLive.com

Betting Odds Breakdown

The PuckLuck model is starting to love the Sabres, as the goaltending has been elite over the past two and a half months and the team is finally starting to score.

As a result, they’re heavier road favorites in the model than the sportsbooks. This means there’s plenty of edge to straight-bet the moneyline.

The puckline and game totals aren’t showing a lot of edge, so this is probably a game to stay away there.

For more betting analysis across the NHL, head over to PuckLuck.com.

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