Coyotes vs. Sabres Prediction
The Buffalo Sabres snapped a five-game losing skid last game, which came directly after a 10-game winning streak. Which Buffalo squad will show up tonight when it hosts the Arizona Coyotes?
Game Snapshot
71 Arizona Coyotes at 72 Buffalo Sabres
Thursday, December 13, 2018
KeyBank Center at 7PM ET
TV: MSG-B (BUF)
Compare odds from multiple different online sportsbooks and shop for the best lines at our NHL Odds & Betting Page.
Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, the Sabres are a -143 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Coyotes are a +123 underdog, while the over-under sits at 5.5 goals. As of Thursday morning, 84 percent of public bets are pouring in on host Buffalo. Check out our NHL Public Betting Page for the latest information.
Coyotes drop third straight
Arizona lost by a count of 4-3 Tuesday night at the Bruins to drop to 13-14-2 on the season. The Coyotes blew a two-goal lead as they led 2-0 through 20 minutes before allowing four straight goals in the second. Nick Schmaltz scored on the power play in the first period for Arizona on assists from Oliver Ekmann-Larsson and Clayton Keller to make it 1-0. Nick Cousins scored the second goal with Alex Goligoski and Josh Archibald assisting. After Boston scored four goals, Arizona trimmed the deficit to 4-3 with five minutes left in the second on an unassisted goal from Michael Bunting. Darcy Kuemper allowed four goals on 26 shots in the defeat.
Sabres end skid against Kings
Buffalo ended its five-game losing streak Tuesday night at home with a 4-3 overtime victory over the Kings. The Sabres (18-9-4) overcame a 3-1 deficit in the win, scoring twice in the third period before Jeff Skinner won it in overtime with his 21st goal of the season on the power play. Rasmus Ristolainen and Jack Eichel assisted on the score. Zemgus Girgensons scored an unassisted goal to tie it at 1-1 through one period before LA scored twice in the second to grab a 3-1 advantage. Eichel cut it to 3-2 in the third with Ristolainen and Sam Reinhart assisting, while Johan Larsson tied it on assists from Lawrence Paul and Evan Rodrigues. Linus Ullmark made 26 saves on 29 shots in the winning effort.
NHL Betting Trends
Arizona
The Coyotes are 0-4 in their last four games versus the Eastern Conference. Arizona is 4-13 in the last 17 meetings.
Buffalo
The Sabres are 5-1 in their last six games versus the Pacific Division. The road team is 18-7 in the last 25 meetings.
Prediction:
The Sabres have been the streakiest team in the NHL as of late and could be back on an upswing. While I don’t love that Buffalo clearly had luck on its long winning streak before the losing skid, I think it more represents the team it has this season. Maybe wins won’t come easy very often, but this is a Buffalo team with young talent that is only going to get better. I trust the Sabres at home here more than I can get behind a Coyotes team currently struggling and on the road.
NHL DAILY PREDICTION: BUFFALO SABRES -143