Buffalo Sabres vs Detroit Red Wings Prediction, 4/7/2024 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Buffalo Sabres vs Detroit Red Wings

Date: Sunday, April 7, 2024

Location: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI

TV: Bally Sports Detroit

The Detroit Red Wings (37-30-8) welcome the Buffalo Sabres (36-35-5) at Little Caesars Arena on Sunday.

The Buffalo Sabres were on the winning side of the scoreboard with a 6-2 victory over the Capitals in their last outing. Buffalo accrued 6 penalty minutes for this matchup. Moreover, they had 2 power play opportunities and scored 2 goals. The Sabres had a impressive offensive performance in the win. In the game, they tallied a score on 6 out of the 35 shots they put on net.

When at even strength, the Sabres let the opposition score 180 goals while earning 192 as an offensive unit. Buffalo Sabres opponents have earned 232 power play opportunities (15th in the NHL) and have come away with 48 goals in those chances. Pertaining to their scoring, the Buffalo Sabres have earned 227 goals (20th in pro hockey) for the season and have allowed 228. Buffalo has taken 2,376 shots and has a shooting percentage of 9.6%. For the current season, they have recorded 77 points and their points percentage sits at .507. The Sabres have seen 2,221 shots taken against them and hold a save percentage of .897. Buffalo has accounted for 213 power play opportunities and they have notched 35 goals out of those advantages, garnering them a percentage of 16.43%.

The player protecting the goal in this game is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Luukkonen has taken the ice for 95 contests throughout his pro hockey career. He has accumulated a record of 45-39-9 and he has gotten the start in 91 games. The opposition has scored 271 goals versus Luukkonen in his pro hockey career and his average for goals against per game is 3.00. Luukkonen has had 2,802 shots against him and has recorded 2,531 total saves. His save percentage currently is at .903 in his 5,413 mins played. Over the course of his pro career, Luukkonen has 50 quality starts and his quality starts rate sits at .549.

The last time they were on the ice, Detroit faced off against the Lightning in a game where the Red Wings earned a win by a score of 4-2. They had 3 power play attempts in this matchup but weren't able to put one in the back of the net. The Red Wings scored 4 goals of the 32 shots on goal they attempted.

The Red Wings have accumulated 190 goals at even strength and 59 goals (7th in the league) while having a power play advantage. Detroit has taken 2,137 shots (26th in professional hockey) and has accumulated a shooting percentage of 11.65%, while allowing their opponents 2,441 shots. So far this year, the Detroit Red Wings have earned 249 goals, 82 points, and a points percentage of .547. They have permitted 248 goals to be scored by way of 203 goals at even strength and 45 goals while they had less men on the ice. They have a total of 259 opportunities on the power play and they have a power play percentage of 22.78%. They have a penalty kill rate of 80.00% on their opponents 225 power play opportunities, and their save percentage currently sits at 89.8%.

On the other side of the ice you will find Alex Lyon defending the goal. The opposition is averaging 3.02 goals/game and he has relinquished 213 goals altogether. Lyon's quality start rate comes out to 52.2% and he has accumulated 36 quality starts in his NHL career. He has started in 69 games and has racked up 4,226 mins. Lyon has earned a lifetime record of 35-27-9 and has been in net for 78 games. He has accrued 2,023 stops out of the 2,236 shots tried, giving him a save percentage of .905.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Tony's Pick: Take Detroit

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