The Buffalo Sabres (32-31-5) travel to face off against the Seattle Kraken (28-26-12) on Monday, March 18th. This game will be played at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle and televised on ESPN+. Both the Sabres and Kraken will be looking to bounce back from losses in their previous games. Puck drop is scheduled for 10:00 ET.
Sabres vs Kraken
The Buffalo Sabres Look To Bounce Back From A Loss
Buffalo comes into this game with a record of 32-31-5, which has them in 12th place in the Eastern Conference. In the Atlantic Division, the Sabres are in 6th place. On the road this season, Buffalo has gone 15-14-4 and have dropped their last two games away from home.
As the underdog, the Sabres have gone 18-21-4 this season, and they have won their last two games when coming in as the underdog. Over their last ten games, Buffalo has gone 5-5, and in their last five games, they have gone 3-2.
Buffalo enters the game with a puck line record of 37-31 this season, including a road puck line record of 20-13. So far, the Sabres have 21 wins by multiple goals and have gone 11-22 in games decided by more than one goal.
Over their last ten road games, the Sabres have gone 6-4 against the puck line and 3-2 in their last five games away from home. As the underdog, Buffalo has a puck line record of 29-14 this season and has gone 2-0 vs. the puck line in their last two games as the underdog.
The Sabres aim to bounce back following their 4-1 loss on the road to the Red Wings. In the first period, the Sabres found success on offense with one time, but that was the end of their scoring for the game. During power plays, the team scored one goal. In total, they recorded 26 shots on goal and had 6 giveaways.
Buffalo was favored by -1.5 giving them a loss vs. the puck line. The game finished below the over/under line of 6.5 with a combined total of 5 goals.
The Seattle Kraken Look To Bounce Back From A Loss
At 12th in the Western Conference, the Kraken have an overall record of 28-26-12. In the Pacific Division, Seattle is 6th with a record of 8-11. Over their last ten games, the Kraken have gone 4-6, and they’ve lost their last two games.
At home this season, the Kraken have gone 14-14-6, and they have lost their last two games at home. As the favorite, Seattle has gone 12-6-4 this season, and they have been favored in 22 of their games.
For the season, Seattle has gone 37-29 against the puck line, including 16 wins by multiple goals. Their average scoring margin for the year sits at -0.2 goals per game.
So far, the Kraken have gone 17-17 against the puck line at home, and their average scoring margin at home is -.1 goals per contest. In their last ten games at home, Seattle has gone 5-5 vs. the puck line.
Coming off a 4-1 loss at home to the Predators, the Kraken are hoping to bounce back today. During the initial two periods, the Kraken had trouble scoring on offense, but they turned things around by notching one goal in the third period. The team’s one goal occurred during a power play, and they managed to take 24 shots on goal while also having 3 giveaways.
Entering the game as the underdog, Seattle not only suffered a straight-up loss but also failed to cover the puck line. The game ended below the over/under line of 5.5, with a combined total of 5 goals.
Buffalo Offense Breakdown
Offensively, the Sabres come into the game at 2.9 goals per contest placing 21st in the NHL. In terms of shots on goal per game, they are in 13th position in the league. Coming into the game, the Sabres have a 19-20 record when they have more shots on goal than their opponent. When they have fewer shots on goal, they are 11-11.
This season, the Sabres’ have an over/under record of 26-40-2. Throughout the season, they have played 35 games that did not exceed the 5.5 over/under line. On average, their games are averaging 5.9 goals per game.
Kraken Offense Breakdown
For their offensive performance, the Kraken come in averaging 2.7 goals per game this season, which is 28th in the NHL. In the category of shots on goal per game, they are 27th in the league. Seattle’s offense is currently ranked 20th in power play goals. When it comes to shorthanded goals, they are 20th in the league.
This season, the Kraken have an over/under record of 28-34-4. Throughout the season, they have played 34 games that went over the 5.5 over/under line. The average number of goals in their games is 5.6 per game.
Buffalo Team Defense
Buffalo defense takes on the Kraken ranked 26th in goals allowed. On average, opponents are averaging 28.7 shots per game against Buffalo. They also are 7th in shutouts, with 5 shutouts.
Seattle Team Defense
Seattle defense takes on the Sabres ranked 22nd in goals allowed. On average, opponents are averaging 29.8 shots per game against Seattle. They also are 21st in shutouts, with 3 shutouts.
Sabres vs Kraken Trends
- Through their last three road games, Buffalo has an puck line record of just 1-2. However, their overall record was 0-3 while averaging 1 goals per game.
- Across their three previous home games, Seattle has an puck line mark of 1-2. Their straight up record in these matchups was 0-3 while averaging 2 goals per game.
- Spanning across their last five games as the betting underdog, the Kraken have gone 3-2 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 2-3.
- In their last three contests as the favorite, Buffalo has a poor record vs the puck line going 1-2. But, they still put together a straight up mark of 2-1.
Sabres vs Kraken Prediction
For a moneyline pick, I’m taking the Kraken to pick up on a win over the Sabres at home. With the moneyline sitting at -120, I’ll be locking in a bet on the Kraken straight-up.
My recommended pick for the puck line is to take the Sabres to cover. Even if the Kraken win straight-up, this one should be close throughout and the Sabres should cover the puck line.
For those looking at the over/under line set at 5.5 goals, our expectation is that this game will surpass that mark, and we suggest making 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:March 18, 2024 Kraken, Sabres