The Buffalo Sabres have reached a new milestone in 2022-23, or one not seen in a while: They are playing meaningful games in April.
The Buffalo Sabres have played 75 games this season, and they find themselves just outside of playoff contention after accumulating 81 points for the first time in seven years. And now, it’s onto the final stretch of the year, where a healthy Sabres team will kick things off tonight against the physical Florida Panthers.
Can Buffalo skate into Sunrise and hand the Panthers an L to keep their playoff hopes high? Here are the odds and a subsequent prediction.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Panthers Odds – Game 76
Per Fan Duel, the Buffalo Sabres are +1.5 underdogs on the road against the Panthers. The Over/Under is 7.5, and the Sabres moneyline is +160. The Panthers moneyline is -194.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Panthers Prediction – Game 76
If we know anything about the way these two teams played one another in the past, it’s going to be one physical affair. The Sabres must match that physicality tonight, and these days, it’s no guarantee that an opponent will bully the Blue and Gold, who’ve been, even if they haven’t logged as many hits, finishing quality checks. And sometimes, quality matters over quantity.
If the Sabres match the physical Panthers, take shots if they even remotely think they have a chance to score or to get a rebound in front of the net, and keep playing defense the way they have over the past few matchups, their chances of skating away as the victors increased.
Regardless of who lines up in the net for the Sabres – though it looks like Devon Levi will be making his road debut – they can expect to face a playoff-like atmosphere. Levi (or UPL, or Comrie) must channel their inner-Dominik Hasek and Ryan Miller for this one to maximize the Sabres chances.
So who wins this thing? Well, Florida’s going to be coming, and if the Blue and Gold aren’t ready, this one can get ugly quickly. But with a healthy Sabres team facing the Panthers that’s played well lately, I’m predicting a close affair that, because they’ve dominated on the road, will end in Buffalo’s favor, 5-4.
(Game odds update periodically and are subject to change)