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Catch the action as the Vancouver Canucks face off against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on Saturday, Jan 13, at 4 p.m. ET, with the game airing on ESPN+, SN, and MSG-B.
Vancouver is coming off a 4-3 road win against the Penguins on Jan 11, while Buffalo secured a 5-3 home victory against the Senators on the same day.
Vancouver Canucks vs Buffalo Sabres: Game preview
The Vancouver Canucks boast an impressive offensive performance this season, averaging 3.91 goals per game, while their defense allows only 2.59 goals. They currently hold the 1st rank in the offense and the 4th rank in defense in the league.
J.T Miller emerges as the standout player for Canucks, recording an impressive 19 goals and 39 assists. In goal, Thatcher Demko impresses with a .916 SV%, a 2.55 GAA, 908 saves, and a remarkable 6.5 goals saved above average.
Meanwhile, The Buffalo Sabres maintain an average of 3.02 goals per game this season, while their defense concedes 3.35 goals. Offensively, they are ranked 21st in the league, and defensively, they hold the 23rd position.
Casey Mittelstadt and Jeff Skinner lead the team offense with a combined 28 goals and 40 assists. Rasmus Dahlin contributes significantly with 12 goals and 22 assists, adding an extra dimension to the defense.
In goal, Ukko-Pekka-Luukkonen boasts a 9-8-2 record, a 3.01 GAA and a .899 SV%.
Vancouver Canucks vs Buffalo Sabres: Head-to-head and significant numbers
- The Canucks and Sabres have faced off in a total of 135 games, combining regular season and playoffs.
- The Canucks' overall record against the Sabres stands at 57-57-19-2 (49.3%).
- In regular season matchups alone, the Canucks boast a 56-51-9-2 (51.2%) record against the Buffalo sabres.
- The Vancouver Canucks longest winning streak over the Sabres spans 6 games, commencing with a 7-5 victory on Mar 10, 1991 and concluding on Mar 1, 1993.
- The Canucks' power play is ranked 10th in the league with a percentage of 23.5%, while Sabres rank 27th with 14.2%.
- In penalty kill, the Canucks hold the 21st position at 78.2%, whereas the Sabres' unit ranks 19th with a percentage of 78.5%.
Vancouver Canucks vs Buffalo Sabres: Odds and prediction
Vancouver has thrived as the favorite team this season, boasting a 15-6 record. Based on the odds specifically, the Canucks have been successful in games where their odds are shorter than -143, with a 10-4 record, indicating a 58.8% chance of winning this game.
On the contrary, the Sabres have embraced the underdog status in 27 games this season, managing to upset their opponent in nine of those instances with a 33.3% success rate. In games with odds of +120 or longer, Buffalo holds an 8-12 record, with odds suggesting 45.5% chance for the Sabres to emerge victorious.
Prediction: Canucks 6 - 3 Sabres
Vancouver Canucks vs Buffalo Sabres: Betting tips
Tip 1: Result: Canucks to win
Tip 2: Total goals over 7: Yes
Tip 3: J.T Miller to score anytime: Yes
Tip 4: Sabres to beat the spread: No
