The New Jersey Devils (29-18-6) travel to face off against the Buffalo Sabres (20-26-5) on Sunday, February 2nd. This game will be played at KeyBank Center in Buffalo and televised on ESPN+. Both the Devils and Sabres will be looking to bounce back from losses in their previous games. Puck drop is scheduled for 1:00 ET.
Devils vs Sabres
The New Jersey Devils Look To Bounce Back From A Loss
The Devils fell to 29-18-6 after a 3-0 road loss to the Flames. New Jersey, favored by -1.5 goals, failed to cover the puck line. The total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score of 3 fell short.
All of Calgary’s goals came in the third period, with the first at 5:34. New Jersey’s offense struggled, managing only 22 shots and committing 19 giveaways.
The Buffalo Sabres Look To Bounce Back From A Loss
Buffalo dropped to 20-26-5 with a 2-1 loss to the Red Wings. The Sabres scored first, but Detroit responded with two unanswered goals. Buffalo, as underdogs on the puck line, failed to cover. The total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score of 3 fell well short.
Alex Tuch put the Sabres on the board with a short-handed goal in the first period, but Detroit tied it up in the second and took the lead with another goal later in the period. Buffalo’s offense was held scoreless the rest of the way.
New Jersey Offense Breakdown
New Jersey’s offense struggled in their 3-0 loss to Calgary, managing 22 shots on goal but failing to find the net. The Devils were held scoreless for the entire game, marking the first time this season they’ve been shut out.
New Jersey had 19 giveaways, which hindered their offensive efforts. They ended the game without any goals, assists, or power play goals.
Sabres Offense Breakdown
Buffalo’s offense managed just one goal in their 2-1 loss to Detroit, with Alex Tuch scoring his 5th of the season on a shorthanded play. The Sabres fired 32 shots on goal but came up empty on the power play.
Buffalo had 13 giveaways and failed to score after the first period. Tuch took 5 shots on goal, and the team was held without an assist.
New Jersey Team Defense
Defensively, the Devils held the Flames scoreless through two periods, but they allowed three goals in the third, including an empty-netter. Jacob Markstrom made 29 saves with a 93.5% save percentage. New Jersey’s defense recorded 5 takeaways and 22 hits.
Buffalo Team Defense
Buffalo’s defense started strong, shutting out the Red Wings in the first period, but they allowed two goals in the second, both on the power play. Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen finished with 21 saves and a 91.3% save percentage, and the Sabres’ defense added 5 takeaways and 17 hits.
Devils vs Sabres Trends
- Across their five previous road games, New Jersey has an puck line mark of 0-5. Their straight up record in these matchups was 2-3 while averaging 2 goals per game.
- Buffalo has played well in their previous five home games, going 3-2 straight up. In this stretch, they averaged 3 goals per game while allowing 3. The team also performed well vs the puck line at 3-2.
- Going back to their previous ten games as the underdog, Buffalo has an puck line mark of 7-3 while going 5-5 straight up.
- Through their previous five contests as the betting favorite, the Devils have a strong record of 3-2. Their record vs the puck line in these matchups is 2-3.
Devils vs Sabres Prediction
When making a moneyline pick, my choice is the Sabres to come out with a win against the Devils while playing at home. Considering the moneyline odds at +126, I’m placing my bet 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.
When considering the over/under line, which is currently at 6 goals, we believe that this game will go over that threshold, and we recommend wagering 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:February 2, 2025 Devils, Sabres