The Buffalo Sabres (24-31-6) travel to face off against the Florida Panthers (39-21-3) on Saturday, March 8th. This game will be played at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise and televised on ESPN+. The Panthers are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Sabres are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Red Wings. Puck drop is set for 6:00 ET.

Sabres vs Panthers

The Buffalo Sabres Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

Buffalo’s 2-1 loss to the Red Wings dropped them to 24-31-6 this season. The Sabres took an early lead with a short-handed goal in the first period, but Detroit responded with two power-play goals in the second. Buffalo was the underdog on the puck line, and the total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, with the combined score falling well short of that mark.

Alex Tuch scored the Sabres’ only goal, finding the net at 11:39 in the first period. Buffalo’s defense held the Red Wings scoreless in the opening period, but Detroit tied it up at 7:49 in the second and took the lead later in the same period. The Sabres managed 32 shots on goal but couldn’t find the equalizer.

The Florida Panthers Are Coming Off A Win

Florida improved to 39-21-3 with a 4-2 road win over the Stars. The Panthers covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, with the total of 6 goals falling just short of the 6.5 set by oddsmakers.

All four of Florida’s goals came from different players, with A.J. Greer breaking a 2-2 tie at 17:28 in the third period. Sam Reinhart added an empty-net goal to seal the victory.

Buffalo Offense Breakdown

Buffalo’s offense managed just one goal in their 2-1 loss to Detroit. Alex Tuch scored his 5th goal of the season, coming on a shorthanded effort 8:21 into the first period. The Sabres fired 32 shots on goal but were unable to capitalize further, with 13 giveaways hampering their attack.

After Tuch’s early goal, Buffalo was held scoreless for the rest of the game, including the second and third periods. The Sabres did not record any assists, and their power play came up empty.

Panthers Offense Breakdown

Carolina’s offense managed 4 goals on 25 shots in their 4-2 win over the Stars. A.J. Greer netted his first goal of the season, while Sam Reinhart added his 10th with an empty-netter. The Panthers’ scoring was rounded out by Evan Rodrigues, who now has 3 goals this season, and Matthew Tkachuk, who also picked up his 3rd goal, which came on a power play.

Carolina had 16 giveaways and scored in each period, including two in the third. The Panthers’ first goal came at the 5:15 mark of the first period.

Buffalo Team Defense

Buffalo’s defense gave up two goals in their previous game, both coming in the second period on the power play. Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 21 saves with a 91.3% save percentage, and the Sabres’ defense added 5 takeaways and 17 hits.

Florida Team Defense

Defensively, the Panthers gave up two goals in their last game, both coming in the second period. Spencer Knight made 23 saves with a 92% save percentage. The Panthers’ defense also recorded 8 takeaways and 22 hits.

Sabres vs Panthers Trends

• Across their last five road contests, Buffalo has a 3-2 record vs the spread. Their overall mark in these games was 0-5, while averaging 3 goals per game.
• Through their last five home games, Florida has an puck line record of just 2-3. However, their overall record was 4-1 while averaging 2 goals per game.
• In their last ten games as the betting underdog, the Panthers have a straight up record of 5-5 and an puck line mark of 7-3.
• Over the team’s last five games as the favorite, the Sabres struggled vs the puck line going just 1-4. However, they still had a straight up mark of 3-2.

Sabres vs Panthers Prediction

If you’re considering a direct moneyline bet, the Panthers is the choice to make. However, with a payout of -276, you might want to use this bet as a building block for a parlay.

For my recommended choice in the puck line, I’m leaning towards the Sabres to cover. Even if the Panthers secure a straight-up win, this game is expected to be tightly contested, and the Sabres should cover the puck line.

For those looking at the over/under line set at 6 goals, our expectation is that this game will surpass that mark, and we suggest making a bet on the over.

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All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

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* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.