New York Islanders vs Buffalo Sabres Prediction, 3/14/2024 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: New York Islanders vs Buffalo Sabres

Date: Thursday, March 14, 2024

Location: KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY

TV: ESPN+/Hulu

Odds/Point Spread: Islanders (-125) Sabres (+105)

The New York Islanders (29-21-14) are headed to KeyBank Center on Thursday where they will compete against the Buffalo Sabres (31-30-5). The line on this matchup has New York at -125 and Buffalo is sitting at +105. The over/under has been set at 7.

The New York Islanders will need a bounce back game after taking a 3-0 loss against the Kings in their previous contest . The Islanders didn't have a great showing offensively in this defeat. For the game, they ended the night with no scores out of the 26 shots they put on goal. They also had 5 power play tries but didn't convert them into a score. New York accumulated 6 penalty minutes in this matchup.

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While playing at even strength, the Islanders have allowed 153 goals while earning 156 on the offensive side of the ice. New York Islanders opponents have 187 power play opportunities (23rd in hockey) and have tallied 52 goals in those attempts. In regard to their goal scoring prowess, the New York Islanders have notched 196 goals (19th in the National Hockey League) so far this season and have allowed 205. New York has tried 1,922 shots and has a shooting percentage of 10.2%. For the current campaign, they have earned 72 points and their points percentage is sitting at .563. The Islanders thus far have had 2,117 shots attempted against them and have earned a save percentage of .903. New York steps onto the ice with 180 power play opportunities and they have notched 40 goals out of those advantages, earning them a percentage of 22.22%.

The player protecting the goal in this game is Ilya Sorokin. For his professional hockey career, Sorokin has recorded 121 quality starts and his percentage for quality starts is .676. His save percentage is at .920 for his 10,721 minutes in the crease. Sorokin has had 5,581 shot attempts against him and has recorded 5,133 saves. The opposition has notched 448 goals versus Sorokin in his professional career and his average for goals against per game is 2.51. He has accumulated a record of 92-60-29 and he has started in 179 games. Sorokin has been involved in 183 contests during his NHL career.

In their last outing, Buffalo squared up with the Red Wings in an outing where the Sabres took home the win by a final score of 7-3. They had 4 chances on the power play in this outing but didn't put one in the back of the net. The Sabres scored 7 goals out of the 39 shots on goal they tried.

Buffalo has attempted 2,067 shots (11th in the NHL) and has a shooting percentage of 9.39%, while allowing the opposition 1,914 shots. They have recorded a penalty kill percentage of 78.50% on the other teams 200 power play tries, and their save percentage comes in at 89.7%. They have earned 187 opportunities on the power play and they have earned a power play rate of 16.58%. The Sabres are sitting with 163 goals at even strength and 31 goals (28th in pro hockey) while on the power play. They have allowed 197 goals to be scored by way of 154 goals at even strength and 43 goals while they had less men on the ice. For the season, the Buffalo Sabres have 194 goals, 67 points, and a points percentage of .508.

For the opposition you are going to see Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen patrolling the crease. The opposition is averaging 2.98 goals per game and he has relinquished 248 goals overall. Luukkonen's percentage of quality starts sits at 55.4% and he has qualified for 46 quality starting assignments in his pro career. He was named a starter in 83 games and his ice time sits at 4,990 minutes. Luukkonen is the owner of a lifetime mark of 41-35-9 and has played in 87 games. He has gathered 2,345 saves out of the 2,593 shots attempted against him, giving him a save % of .904.

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

Tony's Pick: Take New York (-125)

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