Buffalo Sabres vs Florida Panthers Prediction, 3/8/2025 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Buffalo Sabres vs Florida Panthers

Date: Saturday, March 8, 2025

Location: Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL

TV: WSFL-TV

Odds/Point Spread: Sabres (+125) Panthers (-150)

The Buffalo Sabres (24-30-6) are hitting the road to Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday where they will go up against the Florida Panthers (38-21-3). The moneyline on this contest has Buffalo at +125 while Florida is at -150. The total comes in at 6.

The Buffalo Sabres were on the wrong end of the scoreboard with a 6-2 loss to the Sharks in the last game they played. Buffalo accrued 6 mins in the box in this outing. They also had 2 power play opportunities and were able to notch 1 goal. The Sabres didn't have their best offensive outing in the defeat. In the game, they scored on 2 out of the 22 shots they put on net.

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At even strength, the Sabres let the opposition score 165 goals while getting 160 on the offensive side of the ice. Buffalo Sabres opponents have earned 182 power play tries (12th in hockey) and have a total of 42 goals in those attempts. When discussing their scoring capabilities, the Buffalo Sabres have notched 189 goals (12th in the National Hockey League) this season and have given up 207. Buffalo has attempted 1,670 shots and holds a shot percentage of 11.3%. For the season, they have 54 points and their points percentage is sitting at .450. The Sabres have seen 1,735 shots tried against them and have a save percentage of .881. Buffalo has 173 power play chances and they have scored 29 goals out of those tries, garnering them a percentage of 16.76%.

The player protecting the goal in this game is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. During his career on the ice, Luukkonen has recorded 75 quality starts and his rate for quality starts is .536. He has a save percentage of .900 during his 5,815 mins guarding the cage. Luukkonen has had 4,140 shots taken against him and has accrued 3,728 total saves. The opposition has racked up 412 goals versus Luukkonen in his pro hockey career and his goals against average is 4.25. He has accumulated a record of 67-59-14 and he has gotten the start in 140 games. Luukkonen has participated in 144 matchups over the course of his professional hockey career.

In their last game, Florida went up against the Lightning in a game where the Panthers ended up with the win by a score of 2-1. The Panthers scored 2 goals of the 29 shots on goal they took. They had 3 chances on the power play in this game and scored 1 out of those tries.

This season, the Florida Panthers have earned a total of 202 goals, 79 points, as well as a points percentage of .637. They have allowed 172 goals to be scored by of a combination of 136 goals at even strength and 36 goals while they had less men on the ice. The Panthers have accumulated 159 goals at even strength and 43 goals (6th in the league) while on the power play. They have recorded 187 power play chances and they have accumulated a power play percentage of 22.99%. Florida has tried 1,978 shots (1st in hockey) and has earned a shooting percentage of 10.21%, while allowing the opposition 1,672 shots. They have a penalty kill percentage of 80.33% on their opponents 183 power play tries, and their save percentage is currently 89.7%.

Across the rink you are expected to see Sergei Bobrovsky in net. He has compiled 19,673 saves out of the 21,514 shots taken against him, giving him a save percentage of .914. Bobrovsky has accrued a career record of 422-237-57 and has participated in 741 contests. He got the starting nod in 725 games and his ice time sits at 40,426 minutes. Bobrovsky's quality start percentage is 58.1% and he has accumulated 421 quality starts in his NHL career. His opponents are averaging 2.73 goals/game and he has given up 1,841 goals altogether.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Florida (-150)

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