The Buffalo Sabres (+170) host the Colorado Avalanche (-200) at KeyBank Center on Thursday. The total is 6.5 (O: -105, U: -115)Colorado (12-7-1) is coming off a 5-0 loss against the Jets on Tuesday. The Avalanche conceded a power play goal while failing to take advantage of their own power play opportunities.
Alexandar Georgiev only had 18 saves on 23 shots against (.782%) in the loss. Buffalo (10-12-1) is playing the second of a back-to-back after earning an exciting 5-4 shootout win over the Red Wings yesterday. Dylan Cozens was the leading goal scorer for the Sabres, netting twice. Craig Anderson saved 41 of 45 shots.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Avalanche won both games between the teams last season, including a 5-3 victory in their final meeting in February, their seventh straight win against Buffalo. Mikko Rantanen led Colorado with two points (1G 1A). Tage Thompson led Buffalo with three goals. Darcy Kuemper got the win, saving 29 of 32 shots (.906%).
FACING OFF
Colorado is averaging 3.30 goals per game for the season, 12th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Sabres team that is allowing 3.61 goals a game (28th). Meanwhile, Buffalo has found the net 3.70 times a game on average, fifth in the league, and the Avalanche are allowing opponents to score 2.60 goals per game (6th).
The Avalanche’s 32.39% power play percentage is the best in the league, while the Sabres rank seventh with a conversion rate of 26.19%. In terms of penalty killing, Colorado has the league’s 22nd-ranked PK% at 76.12%, while Buffalo is 26th at 73.08%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
Rantanen (29 points), Nathan MacKinnon (28), and Cale Makar (21) have been the top skaters this season for the Avalanche. Rantanen is the eighth-leading point scorer in the NHL. Rantanen is among the league leaders with his 13 goals (7th), while MacKinnon is among the league leaders with his 22 assists (3rd).
Makar has also been an offensive leader for Colorado, scoring six and assisting 15. In the net, Georgiev (10-3-1) is Colorado’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.48 GAA and a .926% save percentage, fourth-best in the league. Thompson leads the Sabres in scoring with 29 points (10th in the league). He has 14 goals (4th in the league) and 15 assists.
Anderson (4-4-0) has the best goals against average for Buffalo at 2.76. He has a save percentage of .917%. Eric Comrie (4-7-0) has played the most games in net for the Sabres this season. He has a 3.62 GAA and a .887% save percentage.
HOME AND AWAY
Colorado is 7-4-0 away from Ball Arena this season. Buffalo is 5-7-1 at home this season. Meanwhile, the Sabres are 1-2 without a day off and 1-2 playing with a rest disadvantage. The Avalanche are 1-0 with a rest advantage.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Colorado Avalanche (-175)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
