Buffalo Sabres vs New Jersey Devils Prediction, 10/5/2024 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Buffalo Sabres vs New Jersey Devils

Date: Saturday, October 5, 2024

Location: O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic

TV: MSG+

Odds/Point Spread: Sabres (+124) Devils (-148)

The Buffalo Sabres (39-37-6 last year) are headed to O2 Arena on Saturday where they will play the New Jersey Devils (38-39-5 last season). The moneyline on this contest has Buffalo at +124 and New Jersey is coming in at -148. The over/under is 7.

The Buffalo Sabres had a good night with a 4-2 victory against the Lightning in their previous contest . The Sabres had a solid offensive outing in the victory. In the game, they scored on 4 out of the 34 shots they launched. Furthermore, they had 2 power play attempts but weren't able to convert one of them into a goal. Buffalo accounted for 4 mins in the box for this game.

Get all of our NHL Betting Picks

Buffalo Sabres opposition had 243 power play tries (17th in professional hockey) and notched 49 goals in those attempts. The Sabres had 2,402 shots tried against them and earned a save percentage of .899. Buffalo took 2,534 shots and were the owners of a shooting percentage of 9.6%. When playing at even strength, the Sabres gave up 194 goals while notching 207. Buffalo tallied 223 power play opportunities and tallied 37 goals out of those attempts, earning them a rate of 16.59%. For the previous campaign, they racked up 84 points and their points percentage finished at .512. When it comes to their goal scoring prowess, the Buffalo Sabres earned 244 goals (23rd in the NHL) in the prior season and allowed 243.

The player guarding the cage in this matchup is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. The opposition has been able to score 284 goals versus Luukkonen in his NHL career and his goals against rate is 2.98. Luukkonen has been involved in 100 contests throughout his NHL career. His save percentage currently is .904 for his 5,711 minutes between the pipes. He has an overall mark of 47-41-10 and was named the starter in 96 games. In his professional hockey career, Luukkonen has accounted for 53 quality starts and his quality starts rate sits at .552. Luukkonen has had 2,950 shots taken against him and has recorded 2,666 total saves.

In their last outing, New Jersey faced off against the Islanders in a game where the Devils went home in defeat by a final of 4-1. The Devils converted 1 goal of the 24 shots on goal they took. They had 3 opportunities on the power play in this game but weren't able to put one in the back of the net.

The Devils had 209 goals at even strength and 55 goals (14th in professional hockey) while on the power play. New Jersey has tried 2,516 shots (16th in professional hockey) and earned a shooting percentage of 10.49%, while allowing the other team 2,458 shots. Last season, the New Jersey Devils accumulated 264 goals, 81 points, in addition to a points percentage of .494. They granted a total of 281 goals to be scored by of a combination of 234 goals at even strength and 47 goals while they had less men on the ice. They earned 245 power play chances and they have earned a power play percentage of 22.45%. They earned a penalty kill rate of 80.66% on the other team's 243 power play chances, and their save percentage was 88.6%.

Across the ice you are going to see Jacob Markstrom between the pipes. Markstrom has earned a career mark of 215-196-57 and has played in 485 games. Markstrom's quality start rate sits at 52.6% and he has 246 quality starts in his career. He is sitting with 12,627 stops out of 13,892 shots attempted against him, which gives him a save percentage of .909. Opponents are averaging 2.72 goals/game and he has yielded 1,265 goals in total. He has started in 468 games and has played for a total of 27,856 minutes.

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

Guy's Pick: Take New Jersey (-148)

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here