The Buffalo Sabres and New York Islanders are both stuck on nine points so far this season. The good news is that they are only one point behind the eighth-seeded Carolina Hurricanes.
The bad news is that everyone
but Washington has at least nine points in the East.
Record: 34-40 (-521)
The Buffalo Sabres can win because…
They finally have a bit of momentum on their side. The
Sabres have not been a good team so far this season but they are coming off a
very big win on Thursday. In an exciting back-and-forth game, the Sabres
outlasted the Montreal Canadiens to earn a 5-4 shootout win. These are the type
of performances that can help turn the tide of momentum.
The Islanders are mired in their own slump as they have
lost three straight themselves. They’ve allowed at least three goals in three
straight and seven of their last eight. The Sabres should get their share of
tallies and if their offense is working, they should have a good chance to
leave Long Island with a win.
Keep up to the minute on all of the NHL betting odds lines at our odds page~
The New York Islanders can win because…
Ryan Miller is not playing well. On top of that, he
rarely plays well against the New York Islanders.
Miller might be a former Vezina Trophy winner but he
looks a shadow of his former self these days. He’s posted a 3.69 GAA so far
this season and the Sabres – as a team – have allowed 3.09 goals per game.
Miller doesn’t play well against the Islanders either as he has a career 3.10
GAA against them, which is his second-highest mark against any team in the
East.
For the Isles, they’ve slumped recently because they haven’t
scored enough. They have just three goals in their last three games. However,
going up against Miller should wake them up. Also, getting Josh Bailey and
Lubomir Visnovsky back in the lineup (both could play on Saturday) should give
them a boost.
Outlook & Pick
Both of these teams are struggling and while it’s hard to
predict a side, the over makes more sense. Ryan Miller doesn’t play well
against the Isles and on top of that, he’s struggling this season. The Sabres
will get their share against a feeble Isles defense and this game should head
over the total for our NHL Picks.
NHL Picks: Over
5.5 at BetOnline
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