Buffalo Sabres vs Calgary Flames Betting Picks

Buffalo opened its six-game road trip with losses to the Flyers, 5-2, and to the Jets, 4-1, in their last game three days ago. The Jets' score is misleading as the Sabres finished with a 19-8 lead in high-danger chances. Calgary, on the other hand, has been riding the hot goaltending of Dustin Wolf, winning its last two games, blanking Utah, 2-0, two days ago, and beating a flat Minnesota team, 4-1, this past Thursday. The Flames don't produce enough goals to be trusted. This is a buy-low spot on Buffalo and a sell-high spot on Calgary. The Flames are averaging 1.7 goals per game in their last four games. They rank last in scoring in the NHL at just 2.3 goals a game. The Sabres average 2.9 goals per game and have a special-teams edge, ranking second in the league in penalty-killing. Calgary is 30th on the power play. Take the Sabres.

Buffalo has won four of six meetings against Calgary overall and five of the past six road meetings with the Flames, who have lost seven of nine against Eastern Conference opponents. The Sabres come off a 3-2 win over Vancouver on Tuesday when Jiri Kulich had a goal and two assists to back Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who stopped 32 shots. Luukkonen improved to 15-14-4 on the season with a 2.99 goals-against average and he is probable for this game. Calgary just completed a four-game trip and won two of them. The Flames have lost five straight Thursday games and they are 1-7 their past eight versus Atlantic Division opponents. Take the Sabres.

The teams haven't met since way back in October when Calgary won 4-3 and both teams are currently out of the playoff picture. Calgary has lost five of seven, including 4-2 to Vancouver on Saturday night and now the Flames have to play a back-to-back while the Sabres have had two days off. Buffalo should have the goaltending edge in this matchup with Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen expected to start and he is 23-18-3 with a 2.52 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage with five shutouts this season. Dustin Wolf is likely for the Flames and he owns a 3-4-1 record and a 3.25 GAA. Buffalo has won four straight against teams with losing records and five of six overall after allowing at least five goals its previous game. Calgary is 0-6 playing on no rest. Take the Sabres as a Max Play.