The Buffalo Sabres square off against the Detroit Red Wings for the final time this season. Can the Blue and Gold pull off the season sweep?
The Buffalo Sabres and their young, Kevyn Adams-built core has gotten the best of the bunch of guys Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman’s thrown together. Having already beaten Yzerman’s group three times this year, the Blue and Gold already won the season series, but why not complete the sweep, right?
And since the Red Wings are hanging onto their own playoff hopes with an even thinner thread than the Sabres, it’d be an honor to see Buffalo beat them tonight and diminish those playoff chances. Maybe it’ll cause Yzerman to rethink his strategy, or maybe he’ll just sign another big-time free agent or pull off another “blockbuster” deal, thinking he needs just one more puzzle piece.
Meanwhile, Adams will keep what has so far been a successful system going, before he re-signs another young player or two, or three even, to long-term deals. But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves, are the Sabres winning tonight? Here are the odds.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Red Wings Odds – Game 77
Per Fan Duel, the Buffalo Sabres are -1.5 favorites on the road against the Red Wings. The Over/Under is 6.5, and the Sabres moneyline is -118. The Red Wings moneyline is -102.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Red Wings Prediction – Game 77
If the Sabres want to pull off the sweep, they need to be more consistent offensively than they were against the Panthers on Tuesday. While they logged 40 shots on net – the argument many have used that they did play a good offensive game, they still disappeared for stretches, and it cost them. That can’t happen against Detroit, and while I’ve made a few jokes in the above section at their expense, the Red Wings are still a decent hockey team who can beat (almost) anyone.
So if Buffalo logs the same number of shots on goal, but they spread them more evenly throughout the game, I can see them building and maintaining pressure on Detroit’s unit. And that will play into their hands.
Defensively, Buffalo got sloppy against Florida, allowing one too many breakaways. They also need to be more physical in this one, as such play has been nearly nonexistent lately.
If the Sabres can find more consistency on offense, and play better defense than they did against Florida, they’re winning this game. Not that they won’t win if they don’t, but why even take that risk?
(Game odds update regularly and are subject to change)