Winnipeg Jets vs. Buffalo Sabres Prediction, NHL Odds
The Winnipeg Jets are still alive in the Western Conference playoff hunt, but every game is essentially a must-win from here on out. The Buffalo Sabres have made strides this season, but they’re still far from being a playoff contender. Winnipeg last took the ice at home on Sunday, downing Arizona 2-1 in overtime. The Sabres were in action on Monday, leaving their visit to Chicago with a 6-5 win.
The Jets are -161 favourites to win on the NHL odds, with a total of 6.0.
Jets vs. Sabres NHL Betting Odds
This is the last time these two teams will face each other this season following Buffalo’s 4-2 win in Winnipeg on Dec. 14. Defenceman Rasmus Dahlin led the Sabres with two goals, including the game-winner. The total has gone Under in four of the last five head-to-heads.
Sitting just outside of the Western Conference’s final wild card spot, the Jets are making a push for the playoffs with four wins in their last five games. They’ve been a great cover option this season, going 38-29 against the spread, including 20-13 ATS on the road. The total has gone Over in 11 of Winnipeg’s last 16 games overall and five of their last six on the road.
Buffalo has seen a big improvement over last season’s historically bad year, although they’ve still managed to drop 14 of their last 20 home games. They’re 39-28 ATS and have covered in 20 of 33 home dates. The total has gone Over in four of the Sabres’ last five games.
Winnipeg Jets
Mark Scheifele and Connor Hellebuyck took the reins for Winnipeg on Sunday. Scheifele scored the Jets’ lone regulation goal and the OT winner, while Hellebuyck was nearly perfect with 28 saves on 29 shots. Winnipeg ended their four-game homestand with a 3-0-1 record and they now trail Vegas by two points for the final Western Conference playoff spot, with a game in hand. The Jets also trail Dallas by one point and have played three games fewer than the Stars. Kyle Connor has been the story of this team offensively. The sniper is tied for sixth in NHL scoring with 82 points (41G, 41A) and he has 20 points more than the next closest Winnipeg player, Scheifele (26G, 36A).
This is the first of a back-to-back for the Jets, so it’s unclear if they’ll elect to start Hellebuyck in Buffalo on Wednesday, or save him for Toronto on Thursday. Hellebuyck, who has started an NHL-high 56 games this season, has a 24-23-9 record, with a 2.94 goals-against average and .911 save percentage. If he doesn’t go against the Sabres, Eric Comrie will get the nod. Comrie is 8-2-1 with a 2.39 GAA and .920 SV.
Buffalo Sabres
It was a wild one for Buffalo against Chicago on Monday. The Sabres trailed 4-0 early in the second period before tying the game early in the third. Both teams traded goals again, before Tage Thompson scored the winner with 12 seconds left in the game. Victor Olofsson scored twice, while Kyle Okposo, Vinnie Hinostroza and Alex Tuch also found the back of the net. Dustin Tokarski allowed five goals on 21 shots. Thompson is having a breakout season and leads the team with 51 points and 28 goals. The 24-year-old has never scored more than 14 points and eight goals in four previous seasons. Jeff Skinner is having a resurgent year, scoring 27 goals, his most since a his 40-goal campaign in 2018-19.
Buffalo has been alternating starts between Tokarski and Craig Anderson, so if they continue the pattern, the veteran Anderson should be in net on Wednesday. Anderson is 12-9-1 with a 3.13 GAA and .901 SV. Tokarski is 7-9-5 with a 3.16 GAA and .902 SV.
WIN
BUF