Buffalo Sabres vs Winnipeg Jets Prediction, 1/26/2023 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Buffalo Sabres vs Winnipeg Jets

Date: Thursday, January 26, 2023

Location: Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, MB

TV: TSN3

Odds/Point Spread: Sabres (+164) Jets (-200)

The Winnipeg Jets (31-17-1) are hosting the Buffalo Sabres (25-19-3) at Canada Life Centre on Thursday. The line on this contest has the Sabres at +164 and the Jets are coming in at -200. The total is 7.

The Buffalo Sabres went home feeling good about their game by earning a 5-3 win against the Blues in the last game they played. Buffalo compiled 6 mins in the box in this game. Moreover, they had 2 attempts on the power play but weren't able to score a goal. The Sabres had a solid offensive output and it showed in this win. In the game, they earned a goal on 5 of the 31 shots they looked to score on.

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When discussing their scoring, the Buffalo Sabres have earned 179 goals (2nd in the league) on the year and have allowed 160. For the season, they have recorded 53 points and their points percentage comes in at .564. Buffalo has compiled 167 power play chances and they have added 43 goals out of those attempts, giving them a percentage of 25.75%. While playing at even strength, the Sabres have conceded 123 goals while notching 136 as an offensive unit. Buffalo has tried 1,527 shots and has a shooting percentage of 11.7%. The Sabres so far have had 1,542 shots tried against them and have earned a save percentage of .896. Buffalo Sabres opponents have totaled 141 power play opportunities (22nd in the league) and have scored 37 goals in those chances.

The player guarding the cage in this matchup is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Luukkonen has played in 32 matchups throughout his pro hockey career. He has earned a win-loss record of 16-13-3 and was named the starter in 32 games. Opponents have scored 101 goals versus Luukkonen in his pro career and his average for goals against per game is 3.24. Luukkonen has seen 1,049 shots against him and he has 948 total saves. He has a save percentage of .904 in his 1,868 minutes between the pipes. Over the course of his pro career, Luukkonen has accrued 14 quality starts and his quality starts rate sits at .438.

In their last game, Winnipeg opposed the Predators in a game where the Jets took the loss by a final score of 2-1. They had 3 power play chances in this matchup but weren't able to notch a goal. The Jets scored 1 goal of the 33 shots on goal they tried.

On the year, the Winnipeg Jets have tallied 160 goals, 63 points, as well as a points percentage of .643. They have granted a total of 128 goals to be scored by of a combination of 106 goals at even strength and 22 goals while they had less men on the ice. The Jets have racked up 124 goals at even strength and 36 goals (13th in the NHL) while on the power play. They have a tally of 154 chances on the power play and they have earned a power play rate of 23.38%. Winnipeg has taken 1,470 shots (19th in professional hockey) and has earned a shooting percentage of 10.88%, while allowing the opposition 1,515 shots. They have a penalty kill rate of 84.06% on the other teams 138 power play tries, and their save percentage comes in at 91.6%.

Across the ice you will find Connor Hellebuyck in net. He has racked up 11,739 saves out of 12,809 shots taken against him, giving him a save percentage of .916. Hellebuyck has compiled a lifetime mark of 224-142-36 and has been in goal for 418 games. He has started in 409 games and has played 24,128 minutes. Hellebuyck's percentage of quality starts comes in at 57.0% and he has earned 233 quality starting assignments in his hockey career. The opposition is averaging 2.66 goals per contest and he has allowed 1,070 goals in total.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Winnipeg (-200)

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