Free NHL Picks Today: Buffalo Sabres vs Detroit Red Wings 12/29/22

The Detroit Red Wings (+135) head to take on the Buffalo Sabres (-160), who will be looking to prolong their winning streak, at KeyBank Center on Thursday. The total is 6.5 (O: -120, U: +100)Detroit (15-11-7) is playing on back-to-back days after earning a high-scoring 5-4 overtime win over the Penguins yesterday.

The Red Wings committed only two penalties in the game, yet still conceded two power play goals. Five players found the net for the Red Wings. Lucas Raymond had two assists to lead the team in scoring. Magnus Hellberg had a great performance with 19 saves to record the shutout.

Buffalo (16-14-2) won their fourth straight game, beating the Golden Knights 3-2 on December 19. Lawrence Pilut, Jeff Skinner, and Tage Thompson each scored once for the Sabres. Pilut added an assist to lead the team in scoring. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen saved 41 of 43 shots in the win (.953%).

HEAD TO HEAD

The Sabres have won both games between the teams this season, including a 5-4 (SO) victory in their most recent meeting in November. Dylan Cozens (2G 0A) and Rasmus Dahlin (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Buffalo. Oskar Sundqvist (2G 0A), Andrew Copp (0G 2A), and Filip Hronek (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Detroit. Craig Anderson got the win, saving 41 of 45 shots (.911%).

FACING OFF

Detroit is averaging 3.09 goals per game for the season, 19th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Sabres team that is allowing 3.41 goals a game (24th). Meanwhile, Buffalo has found the net 3.94 times a game on average, first in the league, and the Red Wings are allowing opponents to score 3.24 goals per game (19th).

The Sabres’ 29.75% power play percentage is the second-best in the league, while the Red Wings rank 21st with a conversion rate of 20.83%. In terms of penalty killing, Detroit has the league’s 19th-ranked PK% at 76.53%, while Buffalo is 25th at 73.39%.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 32 points this season, Dylan Larkin is the top skater for the Red Wings. He has 13 goals and 19 assists in 32 games. In the net, Ville Husso (12-6-5) is Detroit’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.72 GAA and a .912% save percentage.

Thompson leads the Sabres in scoring with 50 points (4th in the league). He has 26 goals (2nd in the league) and 24 assists in 32 games. Anderson (7-4-1) has the best goals against average for Buffalo at 2.65. He has a save percentage of .922%.

HOME AND AWAY

Detroit is 7-5-4 away from home this season. Buffalo is 7-8-2 at KeyBank Center this season. Meanwhile, the Red Wings are 3-1 without a day off and 3-1 playing with a rest disadvantage. The Sabres are 4-1 with a rest advantage.