Buffalo Sabres vs Detroit Red Wings Prediction, 3/12/2025 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Buffalo Sabres vs Detroit Red Wings

Date: Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Location: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI

TV: Fanduel Sports Network

Odds/Point Spread: Sabres (+162) Red Wings (-196)

The Detroit Red Wings (30-28-6) will compete against the Buffalo Sabres (25-32-6) at Little Caesars Arena on Wednesday. The moneyline on this contest has Buffalo at +162 while Detroit is coming in at -196. The over/under has been set at 6.

The Buffalo Sabres were on the winning side of the scoreboard with a 3-2 victory against the Oilers their last time on the ice. Buffalo garnered 8 minutes in the box in this game. Moreover, they had 2 opportunities with more players on the ice but weren't able to convert one of them into a goal. The Sabres offense showed they have some room for improvement in this victory. In the game, they scored on 3 of the 23 shots they put on goal.

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When at even strength, the Sabres let the opposition score 175 goals while scoring 167 on the offensive side of the ice. Buffalo Sabres opponents have recorded 190 power play opportunities (7th in the league) and have notched 44 goals in those chances. In terms of their scoring capabilities, the Buffalo Sabres have accumulated 197 goals (12th in the NHL) so far this year and have surrendered 219. Buffalo has tried 1,747 shots and is the owner of a shooting percentage of 11.3%. For the current season, they have 56 points and their points percentage comes in at .444. The Sabres have seen 1,831 shots tried against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .880. Buffalo has accumulated 181 power play opportunities and they have added 30 goals out of those attempts, garnering them a percentage of 16.57%.

Patrolling the crease for the game will be Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. The opposition has racked up 421 goals versus Luukkonen in his NHL career and his goals against average per game is 4.34. Luukkonen has participated in 146 games over the course of his pro hockey career. His save percentage sits at .900 for his 5,820 minutes guarding the cage. He has a record of 67-61-14 and he started in 142 games. In his professional hockey career, Luukkonen has 76 quality starts and his quality starts rate sits at .535. Luukkonen has seen 4,201 shot attempts against him and has recorded 3,780 saves.

When they were on the ice last, Detroit played the Senators in an outing where the Red Wings took the loss by a final of 2-1. The Red Wings scored 1 goal of the 49 shots on goal they took. They had 3 power play chances in this one but weren't able to score a goal.

Detroit has tried 1,770 shots (22nd in professional hockey) and has a shot percentage of 10.11%, while allowing the other team 1,844 shots. They have earned a penalty kill percentage of 69.54% on the other teams 151 tries on the power play, and their save percentage comes in at 88.9%. They have a total of 188 chances on the power play and they have accumulated a power play rate of 28.19%. The Red Wings are sitting with 126 goals at even strength and 53 goals (2nd in hockey) while having more men on the ice. They have permitted 204 goals to be scored by of a combination of 158 goals at even strength and 46 goals while they were shorthanded. For the year, the Detroit Red Wings are sitting with 179 goals, 66 points, as well as a points percentage of .516.

Across the ice you are likely to see Cam Talbot in net. Talbot has amassed a career record of 262-190-45 and has been in net for 522 contests. Talbot's rate of quality starts comes out to 55.0% and he has 274 quality starting assignments in his professional career. He is sitting with 13,770 stops out of 15,090 shots taken, giving him a save % of .913. The opposition is averaging 2.84 goals per game and he has given up 1,320 goals altogether. He was named a starter in 498 contests and has been on the ice for 27,865 minutes.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Buffalo (+162)

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