New Jersey Devils vs Buffalo Sabres Prediction, 10/4/2024 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: New Jersey Devils vs Buffalo Sabres

Date: Friday, October 4, 2024

Location: O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic

TV: MSG Network

Odds/Point Spread: Devils (-155) Sabres (+130)

The Buffalo Sabres (39-37-6 last year) will try to defeat the New Jersey Devils (38-39-5 last season) at O2 Arena on Friday. The odds on this game have the Devils at -155 while the Sabres are priced at +130. The over/under is set at 7.

The New Jersey Devils were on the losing side of the ice with a 4-1 defeat to the Islanders in their last outing. New Jersey garnered 2 minutes in the box in this contest. The Devils left a lot to be desired in terms of their offense in this loss. Furthermore, they had 3 chances with the advantage but weren't able to net one. For the game, they scored on 1 of the 24 shots they put on goal.

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New Jersey Devils opponents had 243 power play opportunities (18th in the league) and had a total of 47 goals in those attempts. The Devils had 2,458 shots attempted against them and earned a save percentage of .886. New Jersey attempted 2,516 shots and were the owners of a shooting percentage of 10.5%. When at even strength, the Devils let the opposition score 234 goals while earning 209. New Jersey finished with 245 power play chances and notched 55 goals out of those advantages, garnering them a rate of 22.45%. For last season, they recorded 81 points and their points percentage was .494. In terms of their goal scoring prowess, the New Jersey Devils racked up 264 goals (12th in the NHL) for the previous season and gave up 281.

The man protecting the net in this game is Jacob Markstrom. The opposition has racked up 1,265 goals against Markstrom in his pro hockey career and his goals against average per game is 2.72. Markstrom has been involved in 485 contests over the course of his hockey career. His save percentage currently is at .909 for his 27,856 minutes guarding the cage. He has amassed a record of 215-196-57 and was named the starter in 468 games. For his career, Markstrom is sitting with 246 quality starts and his rate for quality starts is .526. Markstrom has had 13,892 shot attempts taken against him and has accrued 12,627 total saves.

In their last game, Buffalo opposed the Lightning in an outing where the Sabres took home the victory by a final score of 4-2. They had 2 power play attempts in this matchup but weren't able to score a goal. The Sabres tallied 4 goals of the 34 shots on goal they pursued.

The Sabres accumulated 207 goals at even strength and 37 goals (30th in the league) while on the power play. Buffalo took 2,534 shots (15th in pro hockey) and earned a shooting percentage of 9.63%, while allowing the opposition 2,402 shots. Last year, the Buffalo Sabres had a total of 244 goals, 84 points, in addition to a points percentage of .512. They granted a total of 243 goals to be scored by of a combination of 194 goals at even strength and 49 goals while they were shorthanded. They had a tally of 223 opportunities on the power play and they have a power play rate of 16.59%. They recorded a penalty kill rate of 79.84% on their opposition's 243 opportunities on the power play, and their save percentage was 89.9%.

Across the rink you will find Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen protecting the goal. Teams are averaging 2.98 goals per game and he has yielded 284 goals altogether. Luukkonen's quality start rate comes out to 55.2% and he has made 53 quality starting assignments in his pro hockey career. He got the starting nod in 96 games and his ice time sits at 5,711 mins. Luukkonen is the owner of a lifetime mark of 47-41-10 and has played in 100 games. He has accrued 2,666 saves out of 2,950 shots tried, which gives him a save percentage of .904.

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

Tony's Pick: Take New Jersey (-155)

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