Buffalo Sabres vs Utah Hockey Club Prediction, 3/20/2025 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Buffalo Sabres vs Utah Hockey Club

Date: Thursday, March 20, 2025

Location: Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah

TV: Utah 16

Odds/Point Spread: Sabres (+150) Hockey Club (-182)

Delta Center is the location where the Utah Hockey Club (30-27-11) will go up against the Buffalo Sabres (27-33-6) on Thursday. The odds on this game have the Sabres at +150 while the Hockey Club are priced at -182. The total is 6.5.

The Buffalo Sabres came out of this game feeling pretty good about themselves with a 3-2 win over the Bruins in their previous game. The Sabres had an average offensive outing in this win. In the outing, they tallied a score on 3 of the 30 shots they attempted. Furthermore, they had 4 power play opportunities and were able to notch 2 goals. Buffalo compiled 9 penalty mins in this contest.

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When playing at even strength, the Sabres have conceded 184 goals while scoring 172 themselves. Buffalo Sabres opponents have totaled 199 power play tries (10th in hockey) and have come away with 47 goals in those chances. When talking about their goal scoring prowess, the Buffalo Sabres have notched 206 goals (13th in hockey) so far this year and have allowed 231. Buffalo has attempted 1,840 shots and has a shooting percentage of 11.2%. For the year, they have recorded 60 points and their points percentage comes in at .455. The Sabres so far have had 1,898 shots taken against them and hold a save percentage of .878. Buffalo comes into the game with 190 power play chances and they have tallied 34 goals out of those attempts, giving them a rate of 17.89%.

The player in the crease for this game is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. During his career on the ice, Luukkonen has compiled 78 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is at .534. His save percentage is at .899 for his 5,831 mins guarding the cage. Luukkonen has had 4,302 shot attempts against him and has accrued 3,867 total saves. Opponents have been able to score 435 goals versus Luukkonen in his career and his goals against average is 4.48. He has an overall mark of 70-62-14 and he was named the starter in 146 games. Luukkonen has taken the ice for 150 contests over the course of his hockey career.

When they were on the ice last, Utah played the Oilers in a matchup where the Hockey Club took the loss by a tally of 7-1. The Hockey Club earned 1 goal out of the 30 shots on goal they took. They had 3 attempts on the power play in this game but were not able to net one.

The Hockey Club are sitting with 146 goals at even strength and 44 goals (12th in pro hockey) while on the power play. Utah has attempted 1,933 shots (14th in the league) and has a shooting percentage of 9.83%, while allowing their opponents 1,898 shots. On the season, the Utah Hockey Club have 190 goals, 71 points, and a points percentage of .522. They have permitted 202 goals to be scored by of a combination of 163 goals at even strength and 39 goals while they were shorthanded. They have a total of 192 opportunities on the power play and they have a power play rate of 22.92%. They have a penalty kill percentage of 80.79% on their oppositions 203 power play tries, and their save percentage is currently 89.4%.

On the other side of the ice you are expected to see Karel Vejmelka in goal. He has recorded 5,045 stops out of the 5,606 shots taken, giving him a save % of .900. Vejmelka is the owner of a lifetime mark of 63-93-17 and has played in 185 contests. He has started in 173 games and has accumulated 7,863 mins. Vejmelka's percentage of quality starts comes out to 46.2% and he has made 80 quality starting assignments in his pro hockey career. Opponents are averaging 4.28 goals/game and he has surrendered 561 goals altogether.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Utah (-182)

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