Buffalo Sabres vs Colorado Avalanche Prediction, 12/15/2022 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Buffalo Sabres vs Colorado Avalanche

Date: Thursday, December 15, 2022

Location: Ball Arena in Denver, CO

TV: Altitude Sports

Odds/Point Spread: Sabres (+180) Avalanche (-220)

The Buffalo Sabres (13-14-2) are on their way to Ball Arena on Thursday where they will meet the Colorado Avalanche (15-10-2). The moneyline on this contest has Buffalo at +180 while Colorado is at -220. The over/under is 6.

The Buffalo Sabres were on the winning side of the scoreboard with a 6-0 victory against the Kings in the last game they played. Buffalo accounted for 6 penalty minutes for this matchup. The Sabres had a solid offensive performance and it showed in this win. They also had 6 opportunities with more players on the ice and notched 3 goals. In the game, they converted 6 of the 31 shots they put on net.

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In terms of their scoring, the Buffalo Sabres have accumulated 114 goals (1st in pro hockey) this season and have conceded 103. For the current campaign, they have tallied 28 points and their points percentage comes in at .483. Buffalo comes into the game with 113 power play chances and they have scored 33 goals during those advantages, giving them a rate of 29.20%. When playing at even strength, the Sabres have allowed the opponent to score 75 goals while notching 81 of their own. Buffalo has taken 946 shots and holds a shot percentage of 12.1%. The Sabres so far have had 937 shots tried against them and have a save percentage of .890. Buffalo Sabres opponents have earned 98 power play tries (11th in hockey) and have racked up 28 goals in those attempts.

Patrolling the crease for the game will be Craig Anderson. Anderson has played in 695 contests throughout his professional hockey career. He has earned an overall record of 314-268-72 and he has started in 608 games. The opposition has scored 1,871 goals against Anderson in his pro career and his goals against rate is 2.85. Anderson has seen 21,333 shot attempts taken against him and has recorded 19,462 total saves. He has a save percentage of .912 for his 39,425 minutes guarding the cage. Over the course of his time in hockey, Anderson has 324 quality starts and his quality starts percentage sits at .533.

Their last time out, Colorado went up against the Flyers in a matchup where the Avalanche took home the victory by a tally of 3-2. The Avalanche recorded 3 goals out of the 25 shots on goal they took. They had 3 opportunities on the power play in this contest but weren't able to put one in the back of the net.

Colorado has attempted 875 shots (22nd in the NHL) and has a shot percentage of 9.49%, while allowing their opponents 889 shots. They have earned a penalty kill rate of 76.60% on the other teams 94 power play opportunities, and their save percentage comes in at 91.6%. They have recorded 96 power play opportunities and they have accumulated a power play rate of 28.13%. The Avalanche are sitting with 56 goals at even strength and 27 goals (6th in professional hockey) while having a power play advantage. They have granted a total of 75 goals to be scored by of a combination of 53 goals at even strength and 22 goals while they had less men on the ice. For the season, the Colorado Avalanche have earned a total of 83 goals, 32 points, in addition to a points percentage of .593.

Across the ice you are going to see Alexandar Georgiev defending the goal. The opposition is averaging 2.90 goals per game and he has surrendered 391 goals overall. Georgiev's rate of quality starts is 52.6% and he has made 71 quality starts in his pro hockey career. He got the starting nod in 135 contests and his ice time sits at 8,089 mins. Georgiev has accrued a lifetime mark of 69-53-13 and has played in 147 contests. He has gathered 3,958 saves out of 4,349 shots taken, which gives him a save percentage of .910.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Colorado (-220)

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