Buffalo Sabres vs Dallas Stars Betting Picks

Buffalo scored 288 goals last season, fifth in the league, and its three games this season have totaled 9, 7, and 5 goals. Dallas allowed 226 goals last season, the second-fewest in the league. Dallas has allowed six goals in three games this season, with opponents putting 63 shots on goal, an average of 21 a game, and its three games have totaled 4, 3 and 5 goals. Matt Duchene, who had 45 points in 57 games last season and ranked fifth on Dallas in scoring, is on long-term injured reserve. Neither team has scored on the power play this season. Dallas is 0-for-8, and Buffalo is 0-for-10. Games involving Dallas averaged 6.16 goals last season, and games involving Buffalo averaged 6.45, both under the posted total. The UNDER is my play tonight.

The Stars are locked into the Central Division’s No. 2 seed. But Dallas has not let up. The Stars have won four in a row, averaging 4.2 goals a game during this span. Dallas is a top 10 scoring team and has the NHL's No. 2 power play. The Stars are looking to go OVER for the fourth time in their last five games. The Sabres are in a similar spot having already clinched the Atlantic Division. Buffalo snapped a 14-year postseason drought by accomplishing this. The Sabres, like the Stars, are on a four-game winning streak. They are averaging 4.7 goals per game during this time frame. Buffalo has scored five goals in each of its past three games. Buffalo has been good for at least three goals in 10 of its last 13 games. The Sabres are the fifth-highest scoring team in the NHL. Take the OVER.  

Last-place Buffalo is 17th in the league in goals scored and 26th on the power play. At least the defense is improving, winning three in a row allowing a total of five goals. The Dallas defense is fifth in penalty killing, third in goals allowed (2.54 per game), and fourth in save percentage (.910). Dallas is on a 10-2-1 run UNDER the total. Take Buffalo/Dallas UNDER the total. 

The Dallas Stars are out of the gate fast as they enter the contest at 5-1. The Stars have executed superbly on both ends of the ice, outscoring their opponents 18-9, including a pair of shutout wins. Buffalo has struggled out of the gate, allowing 26 goals on the season, just shy of 4.0 per game. It looks like a tall order for the Sabres tonight, as the Stars have not allowed more than three goals to any team. The Stars have also owned the Sabres as they are 16-6 in the last 22 meetings, winning five of their past six visits to Buffalo. Dallas gets the play in this one.