Buffalo Sabres vs New Jersey Devils Prediction, 2/23/2021 NHL Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Buffalo Sabres vs New Jersey Devils

Date: Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Location: Prudential Center in Newark, NJ

TV: ESPN+

Odds/Point Spread: Sabres (+100) Devils (-120)

MacKenzie Blackwood and the New Jersey Devils (6-5-2) host the Buffalo Sabres (5-7-2) at Prudential Center on Tuesday. The moneyline on this contest has the Sabres coming in at +100 and the Devils are at -120. The over/under has been set at 5.5.

The Sabres were on the winning side of the scoreboard with a 3-2 win over the Devils their last time on the ice. The Corsi for the Sabres was 41 and the Corsi against at the end of this game was 43 meaning they had a Corsi rate of 48.8%. Their starts in the offensive zone sat at 48.4% and they had a PDO of 103.1 in this game. Buffalo had 2 mins in the box in this contest. The Sabres had an average offensive outing in the victory. Their Fenwick came in at 38 and the Fenwick against was 29, giving them a Fenwick percentage of 56.7%. They tallied 25 face-off wins when at even strength and were beaten on 18 attempts to gain puck control. Additionally, they had 1 chance with the advantage and notched 1 goal. In the matchup, they tallied a score on 3 of the 29 shots they put on goal.

Buffalo Sabres opponents have earned 31 power play tries (31st in the NHL) and have scored 7 goals in those attempts. The Sabres have had 405 shots taken against them and hold a save percentage of .896. Buffalo has attempted 415 shots and holds a shot percentage of 8.0%. While at even strength, the Sabres let the opposition score 35 goals while scoring 18 on the offensive side of the ice. Buffalo skates onto the rink with 46 power play opportunities and they have scored 15 goals during those advantages, giving them a percentage of 32.61%. For the season, they have accumulated 12 points and their points percentage is sitting at .429. In reference to scoring goals, the Buffalo Sabres have racked up 33 goals (31st in the NHL) on the year and have conceded 42.

The player protecting the goal in this game is Linus Ullmark. The opposition has racked up 284 goals against Ullmark in his career and his goals against average per contest is 2.79. Ullmark has been in net for 106 games throughout his hockey career. His save percentage currently is at .911 for his 6,111 minutes played. He has earned a win-loss mark of 45-44-12 and he has started in 101 games. In his professional hockey career, Ullmark has 57 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is .564. Ullmark has had 3,200 shot attempts against him and has gathered 2,916 total saves.

In their last contest, New Jersey opposed the Capitals in a matchup where the Devils went home in defeat by a final of 4-3. Their PDO was 107 and their percentage of oZS was 39.4%. They had 3 power play chances in this game and notched 1 out of those opportunities. Their Fenwick rate came in at 44.9% by compiling a Fenwick of 40 and the Capitals ending the game with a 49 Fenwick at even strength. The Devils scored 3 goals of the 26 shots on goal they were seeking. New Jersey went home with a 47.7% Corsi rating. This Corsi rating tells us the kind of game New Jersey played and you can say they had a mediocre outing.

The Devils are sitting with 30 goals at even strength and 6 goals (28th in hockey) while on the power play. New Jersey has attempted 383 shots (29th in pro hockey) and has earned a shot percentage of 9.40%, while allowing the opposition 426 shots. So far this year, the New Jersey Devils have accounted for 36 goals, 14 points, in addition to a points percentage of .538. They have a tally of 38 power play chances and they have accumulated a power play rate of 15.79%. They have a penalty kill rate of 59.52% on their opponents 42 tries on the power play, and their save percentage currently sits at 91.8%. They have permitted 35 goals to be scored by of a combination of 18 goals at even strength and 17 goals while they were shorthanded.

Across the ice you are going to see Mackenzie Blackwood protecting the goal. He is sitting with 2,139 stops out of 2,331 shots taken against him, which gives him a save percentage of .918. Blackwood holds a lifetime record of 36-25-9 and has participated in 76 games. He has made the start in 70 games and his ice time sits at 4,317 mins. Blackwood's quality start rate comes in at 58.6% and he has 41 quality starting assignments in his professional career. Opponents are averaging 2.67 goals per game and he has allowed 192 goals in total.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Buffalo (+100)

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