Red Wings (28-38-10, 66 points) @ Buffalo Sabres (31-36-9, 71 points)

March 28, 2019, 7:00 PM EST (KeyBank Center)

Moneyline: Buffalo -150/ Detroit Red Wings +130

Puckline: Buffalo Sabres -1.5

Over/Under: 6

ESPN NHL Scores: Buffalo Sabres vs. Detroit Red Wings

Facing off against two Pacific Division Playoff teams, the Red Wings walked out with two straight wins (vs. the Golden Knights and the Sharks). Will the Red Wings jump aboard the “Lose for Hughes” train again or will the wins keep coming?

For the Buffalo Sabres, the current four-game losing streak could be proof of this team going beyond “giving up.” With losses to the last place Senators and struggling Devils, the Sabres appear focused on looking more stinky than a chunk of Limburger.

Detroit Red Wings

In the most recent two-game winning streak, the Red Wings top lines have shined. Dylan Larkin walked away with two points while Andreas Athanasiou and Anthony Mantha both earned three points.

It is still crazy to think that Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha have been “stars” for this team, but own such low PDO scores and oiSH% ratings. Both men are holding less than 8% on-ice shooting percentages, meaning they had not received help from their linemates this season.

The 2019-19 season is over for the Red Wings, but as they close out the final six games, watch for the top two lines to continue to open up as these forwards keep looking for better contracts going into the 2019-20 season.

Buffalo Sabres

When the Buffalo Sabres imagined how this season would go, they certainly should not have expected a Stanley Cup. Their current 1-8-1 record in the last ten games is troubling.

The Sabres have been happy to observe Jack Eichel’s first point-per-game season. The apparent difference has been the players around him, with his on-ice shooting percentage increasing from 8.9% to 10.1%. Considering (conservatively) Eichel is involved with setting up around 800 shots; it’s the difference between 60 and 80 goals.

Buffalo, however, has severely dropped in scoring production. Getting shutout four times in the past ten games suggests the finger pointing will have to recruit 18 hands. The Sabres are a bad team who has lost motivation. Don’t expect a late push, similar to the Red Wings, to come in these last two weeks.

Cover the Spread 365 NHL Betting Trends

Detroit Red Wings

Detroit is 5-1 ATS in its last six games

Red Wings are 4-1 SU in its last five games

Detroit is 5-13 SU in its last 18 games

Buffalo Sabres

Sabres are 1-8 ATS in its last nine games

Buffalo is 1-11 SU in its last 12 games

The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Buffalo’s last nine games

Free NHL Predictions: Detroit Red Wings @ Buffalo Sabres

Is playing at home enough to justify a Sabres win? Are the Red Wings talented enough to win three games in a row? The last two times these teams played, the Red Wings won the shot battle but lost the game. It was the poor powerplay that crushed the Wings, giving up four goals in seven powerplays.

If the special team’s woes continue, the Wings will surely lose. However, the fact that the Wings are being given a +1.5 in this one makes it easy to go conservative and side with Detroit.

Pick: Detroit Red Wings +1.5