Free NHL Picks Today: Vegas Golden Knights vs Buffalo Sabres 12/19/22

The Buffalo Sabres (15-14-2) will be looking to build on their winning run when they head to take on the Vegas Golden Knights (22-10-1) at T-Mobile Arena on Monday. Buffalo is coming off a 5-2 win over the Coyotes on Saturday, their third win in a row.

The Sabres committed six penalties in the game, conceding one power play goal. Jeff Skinner led the Sabres with two goals. Craig Anderson had a great performance with 29 saves (.935%) in the win.

Vegas fell 5-2 to the Islanders on Saturday. Reilly Smith scored twice to lead the Golden Knights. Logan Thompson saved only 21 of 24 shots against (.875%) in the loss.

HEAD TO HEAD

The Golden Knights won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 7-4 victory in November. Jack Eichel (3G 1A) and Chandler Stephenson (1G 3A) each had four points to lead Vegas.

Tage Thompson (2G 0A) and Dylan Cozens (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Buffalo. L. Thompson got the win despite allowing four goals on 35 shots (.885%).

FACING OFF

Buffalo is averaging 3.97 goals per game for the season, best in the NHL, and they are taking on a Golden Knights team that is allowing 2.76 goals a game (8th). Meanwhile, Vegas has found the net 3.27 times a game on average, 12th in the league, and the Sabres are allowing opponents to score 3.45 goals per game (23rd).

The Sabres’ 30.00% power play percentage is the second-best in the league, while the Golden Knights rank 10th with a conversion rate of 24.73%. In terms of penalty killing, Vegas has the league’s 24th-ranked PK% at 75.00%, while Buffalo is 26th at 72.64%.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 49 points this season, third-most in the NHL, T. Thompson is the top skater for the Sabres. He is among the league leaders with 25 goals (2nd) and has added 24 assists. In the net, Anderson (6-4-1) is Buffalo’s top goaltender by goals against average.

He has a 2.71 GAA and a .921% save percentage. Eichel and Stephenson lead the Golden Knights in scoring with 29 points apiece. Eichel has 13 goals and 16 assists in 27 games, while Stephenson has seven goals and 22 assists in 33 games. L. Thompson (14-7-0) has the best goals against average for Vegas at 2.62. He has a save percentage of .918%.