The Calgary Flames (5-13-3) and Buffalo Sabres (7-8-4) meet in the NHL tonight. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. EST at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
The Sabres are favored by -1.5 on the puck line, with the over/under set at 6.5 (+105o / -125u). The Sabres are a -167 favorite to win outright, while the Flames are +140 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Flames vs. Sabres predictions and NHL picks.
Flames vs. Sabres Odds, Pick
| Flames Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -175 | 6.5 +105o / -125u | +140 |
| Sabres Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +145 | 6.5 +105o / -125u | -167 |
- Flames vs. Sabres Spread: Sabres -1.5 (+145 ), Flames +1.5 (-175)
- Flames vs. Sabres Over/Under: 6.5 (+105o / -125u)
- Flames vs. Sabres Moneyline: Flames +140, Sabres -167
Flames vs. Sabres Preview
Calgary Flames
Calgary is just feeling it right now, and dealing with the pain of a full-fledged rebuild. And it’s not like it’s a rebuild with mainly younger players.
Here we have a roster filled with a handful of young players and several over-the-hill veterans who have no business being major play drivers.
We’re talking Nazem Kadri, Jonathan Huberdeau, Mikael Backlund, Blake Coleman, need I go on? They’re fine depth pieces, but if they’re your big dogs, good luck.
However, here’s the thing: despite this team’s immediate future looking hopeless, those pieces are actually helping to create a solid structure. That’s been the calling card of coach Ryan Huska’s game plan, and we were even one of the better performing teams even strength last season.
However, a significant part of why the Flames have been so poor is their special teams, as they’re converting on the power play at a league-worst 11.9% and succeeding on the penalty kill at a 24th-ranked 77.4%.
I do like Calgary’s future in net, though, with Dustin Wolf, who is one of the brightest young goaltenders in the NHL. But because he started last night against Chicago, expect Devin Cooley to start, who’s had a solid beginning to his Flames career.
In three starts and five games, he’s played to a .935 SV% and a 5.5 GSAx.
Buffalo Sabres
I’m done trying to figure out the Sabres, as they’re consistently an anomaly. Even before two consecutive wins against the Oilers and the Red Wings, they had fallen victim to five straight losses.
It was nice to get back their captain, Rasmus Dahlin, after tending to a personal issue in Sweden, and they have two of the NHL’s better scorers in Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch, but the loss of playmaker Zach Benson has hurt, and no one knows when he’ll be back.
At 5-on-5 play, the Sabres are ranking in the bottom 10 in both expected goals and expected goals against per 60 minutes, but believe it or not, they have the best penalty kill in all of the NHL.
So what do we make of this squad here? It’s probably going to be on the heels of goaltending, which isn’t exactly a promising sign.
It’s mainly been a three-goalie rotation in Buffalo, with Alex Lyon taking the bulk of the starts, yet Colten Ellis is the guy you really want to look out for. I don’t foresee him starting, though, after the win against Edmonton, but I wouldn’t rule out coach Lindy Ruff riding the hot hand.
Flames vs. Sabres Prediction
The books are keen on this because in my head, I’ve been thinking “60-minute moneyline” all day.
You usually see 60 Minute Line plays hold plus-value, but since the stars are perfectly aligning for the Sabres here, I’m still going to roll with them at -120.
Neither of these teams is very good, but Calgary, especially, is pretty terrible.
The Flames are likely riding with Cooley, who has been successful in short stints, but I’m not fully sold. Plus, the team in front of him is going to be exhausted, especially given they’re coming in from Chicago.
I like Buffalo here in regulation.
Pick: Sabres 60 Minute Line (-120)
