The Vancouver Canucks aren’t the same when superstar rookie Elias Pettersson isn’t in the lineup, and how big the Canucks will be favored in the NHL odds for Friday’s home game vs. Buffalo will depend on whether Pettersson returns.
How to Bet Sabres at Canucks NHL Week 16 Spread & Game Info
The #Sabres needed someone to step up.
Our Captain did exactly that. pic.twitter.com/UTBv9udvic — Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) 18 de enero de 2019
- When: Friday, 10 PM ET
- Where: Rogers Arena
- TV: NHL Center Ice
- Live Stream: NHL.tv
- Radio: TuneIn
- NHL Week 16 Spread: Vancouver Canucks -120 / Buffalo Sabres -110 (Total 5.5)
Islanders vs Capitals NHL Week 16 Odds, Preview & Pick
Season Series
The Buffalo Sabres look for the sweep as they beat the Canucks 4-3 in a shootout on Nov. 10. With goalie Carter Hutton pulled for an extra attacker, Jeff Skinner got Buffalo within 3-2 with 2:27 left in the third, and Sam Reinhart tied it 40 seconds later. Nathan Beaulieu also scored, and Rasmus Ristolainen and Rasmus Dahlin each had two assists. Hutton made 36 saves and stopped two shots in the shootout. Loui Eriksson had a goal and an assist for the Canucks.
Jake Virtanen and Erik Gudbranson also scored, Antoine Roussel had two assists and Jacob Markstrom stopped 34 shots. Young Canucks star Brock Boeser was out injured.
This is the 122nd game all-time between Buffalo and Vancouver; Buffalo has a 50-52-19 series record. The Sabres are 18-31-11 on the road against the Canucks all-time.
Why Bet on Buffalo?
The Sabres were 4-3 OT upset winners in Calgary on Wednesday to end a three-game skid. Jack Eichel scored the game-winning goal in overtime and added an assist. Eichel collected an assist on Rasmus Dahlin’s goal, which broke his five-game pointless streak. He then proceeded to score the winner for his team in overtime just a minute into the extra frame. Eichel has registered 16 goals and 51 points in 44 games this season.
Dahlin tied the game 2-2 less than one minute after Matthew Tkachuk gave the Flames the lead. The rookie defender finished the game with a plus-2 rating, two penalty minutes, one shot on goal and one hit in 21:56 of ice time. The 18-year-old has five goals and 26 points in 47 games this season. Dahlin is now riding a five-game point streak. Linus Ullmark made 30 saves. He now possesses a 10-3-3 record with a 2.86 GAA, a .917 save percentage and two shutouts.
Sam Reinhart has already set career-high totals in assists (33) and multi-point games (13) this season. The Sabres are 18-7-4 this season when he records at least one point and 28-4-6 (.816) in his career when he records at least two. Rasmus Ristolainen enters tonight’s game with seven points in his last seven games against the Canucks (2+5), including at least a point in each of his last four (0+5).
With a win tonight, the Sabres will have swept the Canucks in a season series for the first time since the teams resumed facing off twice a season in 2013-14. Buffalo’s last two-win series against Vancouver came in 1997-98. Carter Hutton is 2-1-0 in four career appearances against the Canucks with a .943 save percentage and a 1.80 goals-against average. Hutton figures to start.
Team Stats
Offense- Goals: 2.91
- Shots: 32.21
- PP/PK Percentage: 17.24
Defense
- Goals: 2.98
- Shots: 32.85
- PP/PK Percentage: 18.05
Why Bet on Vancouver?
The Canucks were 3-2 shootout home losers to Edmonton on Wednesday. Markus Granlund scored a goal and collected an assist on Brandon Sutter’s first-period goal. Granlund was then the first Canucks’ shooter in the shootout but missed his opportunity. The 25-year old has amassed eight goals and 17 points in 2018-19.
Jacob Markstrom made 28 saves in the loss. Both regulation goals he allowed were during a 12-shot first period. Alex Chiasson beat him as the fifth shooter in the shootout. It was another solid performance for the 28-year old goaltender who sees his season record go to 18-12-5 with a 2.80 GAA and a .908 save percentage.
Center Bo Horvat might be banged up after being subjected to some big hits on Wednesday. The Canucks called up Tanner Kero from the AHL for precautionary reasons related to Horvat. Star rookie Elias Pettersson sat out again Wednesday. He has been sidelined since Jan. 3 due to a sprained knee.
Pettersson has missed nine games overall this season, yet still leads the Canucks in scoring with 22 goals and 20 assists. His seven game-winning goals are tied for the NHL-league lead and established a new Canucks single-season record for most GWG scored by a rookie. The 2019 NHL All-Star and two-time NHL Rookie of the Month leads all rookies in goals, points, power play goals, power play assists, power play points, game-winning goals, and shooting percentage.
On Wednesday night, the Canucks traded defenseman Michael Del Zotto to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for fellow blueliner Luke Schenn and a 2020 seventh round pick. Schenn was pointless in eight games for the Ducks this season, and he’s spent most of the season with their AHL team, the San Diego Gulls. There, Schenn has two goals and 10 points. The once highly-touted prospect was drafted fifth overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs but hasn’t been able to live up to expectations. This is more about getting the draft pick.
Team Stats
Offense- Goals: 2.88
- Shots: 28.96
- PP/PK Percentage: 17.31
Defense
- Goals: 3.15
- Shots: 30.54
- PP/PK Percentage: 21.66
Sabres at Canucks NHL Week 16 Betting Trends
- Over is 7-2-1 in the last 10 meetings
- Home team is 17-6-1 in the last 24 meetings
- Buffalo is 14-2 ATS in its last 16 games on the road
- Buffalo is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
- Buffalo is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Vancouver
- Vancouver is 9-3 ATS in its last 12 games at home
- Vancouver is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games at home
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Vancouver’s last 6 games when playing at home against Buffalo
Expert NHL Betting Prediction for Sabres at Canucks
If Pettersson plays, take Canucks.
