Calgary Flames @ Buffalo Sabres - November 9, 2024

Alright, folks, gather ‘round because we’ve got a showdown brewing at KeyBank Center on Saturday night. The Calgary Flames are rolling into town to face off against the Buffalo Sabres, and let me tell you, this one’s shaping up to be an interesting battle.

Now, the oddsmakers have opened with Buffalo as -135 favorites. And after their impressive 6-1 victory over the Rangers in their last outing—where they turned +173 on the moneyline into pure profit for savvy bettors—it’s hard not to feel some momentum swinging their way. They’ve been scoring like it’s going out of style with an average of 3.5 goals per game, which is a far cry from Calgary’s 2.8 goals per game.

But here’s where it gets juicy: while Buffalo has been lighting up the scoreboard, they also have a shaky penalty kill percentage sitting at just 76%. This means if Calgary can capitalize on their power plays (17% success rate), they could find themselves racking up some points as well.

Calgary comes in with a record of 7-5-2 but has struggled recently with only two wins in their last eight games. They’re also 2-7 against the spread in those outings, which tells me they’re not exactly covering any ground when it counts. Their last game saw them lose to the Bruins 4-3; however, that total hit 7, making OVER bettors happy campers.

On paper, Buffalo looks solid offensively but defensively? Well, they’re not exactly a brick wall either. With both teams showing tendencies to let pucks slip through (Buffalo at 89.6% saves and Calgary at 90%), I see plenty of opportunities for both sides to find the back of the net.

Here’s my prediction: I believe Buffalo will edge out Calgary for the win tonight; they’ve got that home ice advantage and recent form on their side. But don’t count out Calgary covering that spread—they’re due for a bounce-back performance and might just keep this one close enough to do so.

As for total goals? Buckle up because I’m expecting fireworks! With both teams averaging over six goals combined per game lately—and considering how both defenses are prone to lapses—I’d put my money on this game going OVER that total of six.

So there you have it: Buffalo takes home the W while Calgary covers the spread and we’ll see plenty of scoring action as well! Just remember my little betting ritual before placing your bets—never forget your lucky socks! Good luck out there!