Buffalo Sabres vs San Jose Sharks Prediction, 2/18/2023 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Buffalo Sabres vs San Jose Sharks

Date: Saturday, February 18, 2023

Location: SAP Center in San Jose, CA

TV: NBC Sports California

Odds/Point Spread: Sabres (+105) Sharks (-126)

The Buffalo Sabres (27-22-4) are hitting the road to SAP Center on Saturday where they will try to beat the San Jose Sharks (17-28-11). The odds on this game have Buffalo at +105 and San Jose is at -126. The over/under is set at 7.

The Buffalo Sabres were on the right side of the scoreboard with a 7-3 win against the Ducks in their previous contest . Buffalo accrued 18 mins in the box in this game. The Sabres played really well in the victory. Furthermore, they had 5 chances with extra men on the ice and were able to notch 1 goal. In the matchup, they scored on 7 out of the 44 shots they attempted.

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When at even strength, the Sabres have given up 141 goals while having 149 themselves. Buffalo Sabres opponents have totaled 158 power play tries (25th in professional hockey) and have earned 43 goals in those attempts. In regard to their scoring, the Buffalo Sabres have accounted for 196 goals (4th in the National Hockey League) for the season and have surrendered 184. Buffalo has attempted 1,720 shots and is the owner of a shot percentage of 11.4%. For the current campaign, they have earned 58 points and their points percentage is .547. The Sabres have seen 1,722 shots taken against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .893. Buffalo has tallied 187 power play chances and they have added 47 goals out of those tries, giving them a percentage of 25.13%.

The player protecting the goal in this game is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Luukkonen has taken the ice for 35 games over the course of his pro hockey career. He has a mark of 16-15-4 and he has gotten the start in 35 games. Opponents have racked up 114 goals against Luukkonen in his career and his average for goals against per game is 3.33. Luukkonen has seen 1,157 shots taken against him and has recorded 1,043 saves. He has a save percentage of .901 in his 2,051 mins on the ice. In his professional hockey career, Luukkonen has earned 15 quality starts and his percentage for quality starts is .429.

Their last time out, San Jose faced off against the Golden Knights in a game where the Sharks went home in defeat by a tally of 2-1. They had 1 power play opportunity in this matchup but weren't able to notch a goal. The Sharks recorded 1 goal out of the 26 shots on goal they were seeking.

The Sharks are sitting with 137 goals at even strength and 30 goals (25th in the NHL) while on the power play. San Jose has taken 1,659 shots (22nd in professional hockey) and has earned a shooting percentage of 10.07%, while allowing their opponents 1,752 shots. Over the course of the season, the San Jose Sharks have accounted for 167 goals, 45 points, in addition to a points percentage of .402. They have allowed 204 goals to be scored by way of 177 goals at even strength and 27 goals while they were shorthanded. They have a total of 152 opportunities on the power play and they have a power play percentage of 19.74%. They have recorded a penalty kill percentage of 83.83% on their opponents 167 power play chances, and their save percentage sits at 88.4%.

Across the rink you are likely to see James Reimer in goal. Reimer has a career record of 200-162-59 and has been in goal for 461 games. Reimer's rate of quality starts comes out to 52.2% and he has 222 quality starts in his hockey career. He is sitting with 12,328 saves out of the 13,522 shots tried, which gives him a save percentage of .912. His opponents are averaging 2.84 goals per game and he has yielded 1,194 goals overall. He has made the start in 425 contests and has racked up 25,266 mins.

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

Josh's Pick: Take San Jose (-126)

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