New Jersey Devils at Buffalo Sabres NHL Picks & Predictions 1/8/2019

Tuesday, January 8, 2019

KeyBank Center

Get todays NHL hockey odds on this game.

The New Jersey Devils travel to KeyBank Center to play the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday, January 8, 2019. The opening line for this game has the Devils at +110 and the Sabres at -135.

New Jersey has a record of 16-18-7 this season. They are 7th in the Metropolitan Division. They've scored 122 goals and given up 137 goals for a point differential of -15. For the season they have an ATS record of 16-24-0 and an over/under record of 23-15-0. Buffalo is 22-14-6 this season. They are 4th in the Atlantic Division. They have scored 120 goals and surrendered 120 for a goal differential of 0. Their record against the spread is 22-20-0 while their over/under record is 20-21-0.

Valuable New Jersey Devils Betting Trends

The New Jersey Devils are 16-24-0 straight up this year

The New Jersey Devils are 23-15-0 against the over/under this season

Important Buffalo Sabres Betting Trends

The Buffalo Sabres are 22-20-0 straight up this year

The Buffalo Sabres are 20-21-0 against the over/under this season

Key New Jersey Devils Injuries

12/21/18 LW Marcus Johansson Upper Body IR (12/21)
12/17/18 GO Cory Schneider Abdominal is out indefinitely
01/04/19 GO Mackenzie Blackwood Lower Body left last game, is questionable Sunday vs Vegas
01/01/19 LW Taylor Hall Lower Body IR (01/01)

Key Buffalo Sabres Injuries

12/29/18 C Zemgus Girgensons Upper Body is out indefinitely
12/07/18 D Casey Nelson Upper Body is out indefinitely
10/04/18 C Scott Wilson Leg is out indefinitely
01/06/19 C Jack Eichel Upper Body is questionable Tuesday vs New Jersey

Player Spotlight

Kyle Palmieri has accumulated 36 total points this season for the Devils. He has 20 goals this year with 136 shots on goal, giving him a shooting percentage of 15%. He has a total of 16 assists on the season and averages 18.2 minutes played per game. Nico Hischier averages 18 minutes of ice time per game this year. In that time he has a shooting percentage of 15% by scoring 12 goals on 83 shots. He has 17 assists, giving him a total of 29 points on the season. Keith Kinkaid has 13 wins and 11 losses this season in net for the Devils. He has 869 shots against him and he's given up 87 goals. He's made 782 saves for a save percentage of 90%.

Player Spotlight

Sam Reinhart has scored 40 total points this year for the Sabres. He has 9 goals this season with 86 shots on goal, giving him a shooting percentage of 11%. He has a total of 31 assists on the season and averages 18.5 minutes played per game. Jeff Skinner averages 18.2 minutes of ice time per game. In that time he has a shooting percentage of 21% by scoring 28 goals on 132 shots. He has 13 assists, giving him a total of 41 points on the season. Carter Hutton has 13 wins and 12 losses this year in goal for the Sabres. He has 869 shots against him and he's surrendered 72 goals. He's made 797 saves for a save percentage of 92%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Devils have 39 total points this season, which ranks them 25th in the NHL. They are 19th in the league in goals scored with 122 while they've given up 137 goals, ranking them 8th overall. They have had 132 power play opportunities and have scored 25 goals on those chances for a percentage of 19%. That is 18th in the NHL. The Devils have allowed 135 power play opportunities and have given up 20 goals on those chances for a penalty kill percentage of 85%, putting them 2nd in the league when short-handed. They average 33 shots per game and as a team shoot 8.97% for the season. They allow 31 shots to their opposition per contest and have a team save percentage of 90%. That puts them 26th in the league in stopping the puck.

Useful Team Statistics

The Sabres are 12th in the NHL with a total of 50 points this year. They have 24 power play goals on 129 opportunities for a percentage of 19%. That ranks them 19th in the league as a power play unit. They've allowed 122 power play opportunities and have given up 20 goals on those chances for a penalty kill percentage of 84%. That is 6th in the NHL. As a team, the Sabres are 21st in the league with 120 goals scored while they've given up 120 goals, which is 21st overall. They average 32 shots per contest and have a team shooting percentage of 8.90%. As a team they give up 33 shots per game and have a save percentage of 92%. That is 5th in the NHL.

Advanced Statistics

New Jersey is 16th in the NHL in Corsi percentage with 49.7%, as they've attempted 2,338 shots on net at full strength while they've given up 2,363 shots on net in the same situations. Their Fenwick percentage is 50.7% as they have 1,846 attempts while they have given up 1,795 shots on the defensive end. That ranks them 12th in the league. The Devils start possessions in the offensive zone 47.2% of the time, which is 29th in the league, while their defensive zone percentage is at 52.8% for the season. That is 3rd overall in the NHL. They have 1,226 face-off wins compared to 1,349 losses, meaning their face-off win percentage is 47.6%. That ranks them 29th in the league. On defense New Jersey has 901 hits and they have blocked 568 shots from the opposition, putting them 22nd overall.

Advanced Statistics

The Sabres are 21st in the league in starting possessions in the offensive zone, doing so 49.1% of the time. Their defensive zone percentage is at 50.9% for the season, which is 11th in the NHL. They have 1,231 face-off wins compared to 1,330 losses, meaning their face-off win percentage is 48.1%. That is 25th in the league. On defense Buffalo has 764 hits and they have blocked 543 shots from the opposition, which is 27th in the league. Buffalo is 23rd in the NHL in Corsi percentage with 48.7% as they've attempted 2,337 shots on net at full strength while they've given up 2,460 shots on net in the same situations. Their Fenwick percentage of 48.8% ranks 22nd as they have 1,830 attempts while they have given up 1,917 shots on the defensive end.

Who will win tonight's Devils/Sabres NHL game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Buffalo -135

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