Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NHL match.
Just last week, both teams were in a freefall, but the Buffalo Sabres managed to salvage points in their game against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night (3:2). This result hardly brings the Sabres any closer to the Red Wings – the gap between the rivals is still 10 points.
Detroit Red Wings
In their last outing against the Ottawa Senators, the Red Wings fired 49 shots on target, created 17 high-danger chances with 5.26 expected goals (their best xG tally of the season), and still somehow lost (1:2). They simply ran into a red-hot performance from Linus Ullmark, who pulled off some incredible saves. This wasn’t the first time in their recent slump that the Red Wings have been unlucky—eventually, the dam will break. Over their last 10 games, no other team has a greater disparity between expected and actual goals (10+).
Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres look like the perfect opponent to end the Red Wings’ misfortune. There’s almost no chance of the Sabres being bailed out by their goaltenders—since the Four Nations Tournament break, they rank dead last in the NHL in save percentage (85.53%). As a result, they have conceded 33 goals in their last eight games. Additionally, they have one of the worst disciplinary records in the league (9.7 penalty minutes per game), and the Detroit Red Wings are well-equipped to punish undisciplined teams on the power play.
Detroit Red Wings vs Buffalo Sabres Prediction
The Buffalo Sabres have lost 18 road games in regulation—only the Columbus Blue Jackets, who have played four more matches, have fared worse in the Eastern Conference. The Detroit Red Wings will be eager to set things right after their undeserved defeat in Ottawa, and this game should see plenty of goals.
