The Buffalo Sabres are riding a two-game losing streak and would love to return to their high-octane ways tonight against the Los Angeles Kings.
The Buffalo Sabres will be without star forward Jeff Skinner again tonight, and with no Ilya Lyubushkin or Henri Jokiharju, this game, and those in the coming days, won’t be easy. But the Sabres have enough star power on the roster to make this one a game, and they could perhaps walk away with a pair of points.
Can the Sabres overcome their shortcomings, or will it be yet another letdown amidst a shorthanded roster? Let’s discuss.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Kings Odds – Game 29
Per Fan Duel, the Buffalo Sabres are -1.5 favorites at home against the Kings. The Over/Under sits at 7, and the Sabres and Kings respective moneylines is -110.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Kings Prediction – Game 29
It’s no secret that, when shorthanded, the Buffalo Sabres have been terrible. But as a young team, sooner or later, the needle will begin to point north when they find themselves in this situation. It’s a matter of when, and not if.
As a young group, however, it is not likely that tonight will be the night. While I fully expect the Blue and Gold to put on a close contest against Los Angeles, I don’t believe they will outright win this one, and it’s tough to predict shorthanded wins until the Sabres prove they can otherwise start winning shorthanded consistently, especially when missing two of their better defensemen.
Therefore, I’m saying the Kings win this one 5-3, taking a one goal lead into the third period, before icing the contest in the final minutes on an empty-netter. Hopefully, we see some growth from the Sabres tonight, but a win doesn’t seem to be in the cards just yet. And things won’t get any easier as the week progresses.
(Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change)
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