The Buffalo Sabres (5-7-1) travel to face off against the New York Rangers (8-2-1) on Thursday, November 7th. This game will be played at Madison Square Garden in New York and televised on ESPN+. The Rangers 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 7:00 ET.
Sabres vs Rangers
The Buffalo Sabres Look To Bounce Back From A Loss
Buffalo’s record dropped to 5-7-1 after a 2-1 road loss to the Red Wings. The Sabres were underdogs on the puck line and the total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score of 3 fell well short of that mark.
Alex Tuch put Buffalo ahead with a short-handed goal in the first period, but the Red Wings responded with two power-play goals in the second. The Sabres failed to score again, leaving them without a win in their last three games.
The New York Rangers Are Coming Off A Win
The Rangers improved to 8-2-1 with a 5-2 win over the Islanders. Entering the game as -1.5 goal favorites, they covered the puck line. The total was set at 6 goals, and the combined 7 goals pushed the game over.
Four different players scored for the Rangers, with Artemi Panarin leading the way with two goals. Chris Kreider opened the scoring at 16:16 in the first period, and the Rangers never trailed in the game.
Buffalo Offense Breakdown
In their 2-1 loss to the Red Wings, Buffalo’s offense managed 32 shots on goal but came up with just one score. Alex Tuch netted his fifth goal of the season, an unassisted shorthanded goal 8:21 into the first period.
The Sabres recorded 13 giveaways and were shut out in the second and third periods. Despite the 32 shots, none found the net after Tuch’s early goal.
Rangers Offense Breakdown
In their 5-2 win over the Islanders, the Rangers fired 40 shots on goal and scored 5 times. Artemi Panarin netted his 9th goal of the season with an empty-netter and also scored earlier in the second period, now with 8 goals. Vincent Trocheck added his 4th goal, while Adam Edstrom scored his first of the season.
Chris Kreider opened the scoring with his 8th goal, which came shorthanded. Mika Zibanejad contributed with 8 assists, including one on Panarin’s empty-net goal. The Rangers scored once in the first period, twice in the second, and added two more in the third.
Buffalo Team Defense
Buffalo’s defense struggled in the second period, giving up two power-play goals to Dylan Larkin at 12:11 and 5:22. However, they held Detroit scoreless in the third. Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 21 saves with a 91.3% save percentage, while the Sabres’ defense added 5 takeaways and 17 hits.
New York Team Defense
Defensively, the Rangers had a strong performance from Igor Shesterkin, who made 35 saves with a 94.6% save percentage. The defense also contributed with 10 takeaways, 19 hits, and 18 blocks. The Rangers allowed two goals, both in the second period, but kept the Islanders off the board in the first and third periods.
Sabres vs Rangers Trends
- In their last ten games away from home, the Sabres have a straight up record of 3-7 while going 7-3 vs. the spread. The team averaged 2 goals per game in this stretch.
- Across the Rangers last three home games, the team averaged 3 goals per game while allowing 1. Their record vs the puck line in these contests was 1-2, while going 3-0 straight-up.
- In their last three games as the betting underdog, the Rangers have a straight up record of 1-2 and an puck line mark of 3-0.
- Buffalo has done well both straight up and vs the puck line when favored to win the game, going 2-1 SU and 2-1 puck line in their last three games.
Sabres vs Rangers Prediction
When it comes to a moneyline wager, I’m going with the Sabres to defeat the Rangers while playing on the road. Given the current moneyline odds at +168, I’m placing a wager on the Sabres to win outright.
If you’re looking to get a bet down on this matchup, we foresee the Sabres winning the underdog. However, if you’re not as confident in the Sabres straight-up, we’d still recommend placing a bet on them to cover the puck line.
If you’re looking at the over/under line set at 6 goals, our prediction is that this game will exceed that mark, and we strongly advise placing a bet on the over.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* 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.
Last updated:November 7, 2024 Rangers, Sabres