Vegas Golden Knights vs Buffalo Sabres Predictions and Picks
The Vegas Golden Knights will travel across the country to face the Buffalo Sabres. Neither of these teams made the Playoffs last season, but they are both performing well this year.
The Golden Knights are the best team in the NHL. Everything is going right for them; they have not lost a game since October 22. Vegas has few flaws; their offense is rolling, their defense is well-rounded and disciplined, and their goaltenders are dominant. The Golden Knights may be the toughest team to beat in the league right now.
The Golden Knights have eight players (Jack Eichel, Reilly Smith, William Karlsson, Chandler Stephenson, Mark Stone, Shea Theodore, Alex Pietrangelo, and Jonathan Marchessault) with ten points or more. Jack Eichel is the most talented player in this group. Eichel has six goals and nine assists and is one of the most impressive centers in the NHL. Reilly Smith is the top winger on the Golden Knights. Smith has seven goals, five assists, and a +/- of seven. I could talk more about many more Golden Knights players, but instead, I will say this. Vegas has a lot of players that can score and pass the puck. If they stay healthy, they may finish the season as the best team in the league.
The Golden Knights may have a top-three goaltending duo in Logan Thompson and Adin Hill. Thompson and Hill have a combined save percentage of .928 and only give up 2.14 goals per game.
The Sabres were mediocre at best last season but could make the Playoffs this year. Their defense often struggles, but they have a lot of players that can score.
The Sabres do not have as many offensive weapons as the Golden Knights, but they have two bonafide talents in Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson. Rasmus Dahlin is only 22 years old but already has seven goals and nine assists. Buffalo heavily depends on Dahlin, as he plays over 26 minutes a game. Tage Thompson plays much less than Dahlin but is very efficient on the ice. Thompson has eight goals and eight assists.
Eric Comrie is the starting goaltender for the Sabres. Comrie only played in 19 games for the Winnipeg Jets last season but has been chosen to start for the Sabres this year. That decision has not paid off so far, as the 27-year-old has a .892 save percentage and allows 3.34 goals per game. Comrie needs to improve, or he will quickly become the backup.
The Golden Knights have a lot of momentum and a better team, so they will win this road matchup.
Head-to-Head: Vegas Golden Knights vs Buffalo Sabres
Vegas Golden Knights | Head-to-Head | Buffalo Sabres |
Bruce Cassidy | Head Coach | Don Granato |
12-2-0 (1st in Pacific Division) | Standing | 7-6-0 (6th in Atlantic Division) |
| Leaders |
|
Jack Eichel (13) | Points | Tage Thompson (16) |
Jack Eichel (5) | Goals | Victor Olofsson (9) |
Alex Pietrangelo (9) | Assists | Rasmus Dahlin (9) |
Shea Theodore (12) | +/- | Rasmus Dahlin (8) |
Jack Eichel (3.50) | Shots (Per Game) | Tage Thompson (3.92) |
Why Might the Vegas Golden Knights Win?
The Golden Knights are the better team and will win if they shoot as much as possible and give the puck to Jack Eichel.
The Golden Knights are averaging 33.2 shots a game. They will likely face a struggling Eric Comrie in goal for the Sabres tonight. Comrie has given up nine goals in the last two games and is not playing well. Since Comrie is underperforming, the Golden Knights need to shoot as much as possible. Vegas can run up the score if they attack Comrie with a barrage of shots.
Jack Eichel is the most talented player Vegas has to offer. Eichel can do it all on the ice and has a +/- of ten. The former Sabre needs to be given the puck as much as possible.
Why Might the Buffalo Sabres Win?
The Sabres come into this game with +136 odds but can emerge victorious if they score a power play goal and play tough defense.
The Sabres average 3.85 goals per game but are playing against a Golden Knights squad that also scores a lot. Buffalo must draw penalties and take advantage of them. A power-play goal can push them to victory or send the game to overtime.
The Sabres are playing a Golden Knights team that has scored 14 regulation goals in the last three games. Since this is the case, the Buffalo defensemen need to set the tone early and play intense hockey.
Golden Knights Key Players: (D) Alex Pietrangelo
Alex Pietrangelo is statistically the Golden Knight’s second-best defenseman. Pietrangelo has ten assists but is yet to score a goal.
Pietrangelo is playing over 23 minutes a game but may play even more today since Shea Theodore is on the injured list. He needs to step up today and lead the Vegas defense. The 32-year-old may even be called on to score a goal.
Sabres Key Player: (RW) Tage Thompson
Tage Thompson is the obvious choice. Thompson plays over 26 minutes and has a +/- of eight. He plays at a high level and does not need to do anything different in this matchup. Thompson just needs to continue playing his game.
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