Chicago Blackhawks vs. Buffalo Sabres Player Props, Picks and Predictions – Thursday, Jan. 18

We have your Chicago Blackhawks vs. Buffalo Sabres prop betting and game preview needs covered as the Chicago Blackhawks hit the road to face the Buffalo Sabres.

The Chicago Blackhawks (13-29-2) are set to face off against the Buffalo Sabres (19-21-4) in an intriguing matchup at the KeyBank Center. With both teams looking to improve their standings, this game could be a critical juncture in their seasons.

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Buffalo Sabres Odds Info

Moneyline: Chicago Blackhawks +220 (PointsBet) / Buffalo Sabres -275 (PointsBet)

Puck Line: -1.5 – Chicago Blackhawks -110 (PointsBet) / Buffalo Sabres -108 (FanDuel)

Total: 5.5 – +112 (FanDuel) / -140 (FanDuel)

Game Info

Date: Thursday, Jan. 18

Time: 07:00 PM

Location: KeyBank Center – Buffalo, NY

TV: MSG-B

Chicago Blackhawks Betting Trends

• On the road this season, the Chicago Blackhawks have 4 wins and 19 losses.
• As the underdog this season, the Chicago Blackhawks have 12 wins and 30 losses.
• This season, the Chicago Blackhawks have hit 18 overs and 26 unders.

Buffalo Sabres Betting Trends

• At home this season, the Buffalo Sabres have 10 wins and 12 losses.
• As the favorite this season, the Buffalo Sabres have 10 wins and 6 losses.
• This season, the Buffalo Sabres have hit 19 overs and 25 unders.

Historic Head-to-Head Stats and Analysis

Over the last two seasons, the Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres have faced off three times, with the Sabres emerging victorious in two of those encounters. The games, which span from October 2022 to November 2023, have seen the home team win twice and the visiting team once. Despite the Sabres’ edge in wins, the Blackhawks have consistently outperformed expectations, beating the spread in all three matchups. The over/under betting has tended to favor higher-scoring games, with the total score surpassing the set threshold twice and falling short once. In terms of game statistics, the Sabres have shown a slight advantage in shots on goal, averaging 29.33 shots compared to the Blackhawks’ 26 shots per game. Both teams have demonstrated discipline, with each team averaging three penalties per game in their last meeting. The goaltending has been relatively even, with save percentages for both teams hovering around the .900 mark across the three games.

The most recent game between the two teams took place on November 19, 2023, and ended with a narrow 3-2 victory for the Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres, who were the favorites with a closing moneyline of -184, managed to secure the win despite the Blackhawks’ resilience. Rasmus Dahlin was a standout performer for Buffalo, contributing to three of the team’s goals with one goal and two assists. The Blackhawks’ Philipp Kurashev also made a significant impact, scoring a goal and assisting another. The game was tightly contested, with the Sabres taking 20 shots on goal to the Blackhawks’ 26. Buffalo’s goaltender, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, had a strong showing with a save percentage of .923, while Chicago’s Petr Mrazek saved 17 out of 20 shots for a .850 save percentage. The game ultimately fell under the set over/under of 6.5, with a total score of 5.

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Buffalo Sabres Predictions

The Chicago Blackhawks, despite their struggles this season, are coming into the game with a sense of optimism after a recent victory. The team’s performance has been hampered by injuries to key players, but they have shown resilience and the ability to pull off upsets. The Blackhawks will be relying heavily on their top contributors like Jason Dickinson and Philipp Kurashev to generate offense against the Sabres. Defensively, they’ll need to tighten up as they currently sit near the bottom of the league in goals allowed per game.

On the other side, the Buffalo Sabres have had an inconsistent season but have shown flashes of potential that they hope to convert into a more sustained success. With players like Tage Thompson and Casey Mittelstadt leading the charge, the Sabres have the firepower to challenge the Blackhawks’ defense. Buffalo’s own defensive game has been stronger than Chicago’s, and they’ll look to goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to continue his recent run of good form between the pipes.

This game could come down to key player matchups and special teams performance. Both teams have had their struggles on the power play and penalty kill, but any advantage gained in these areas could tip the scales. With the Blackhawks looking to build on their recent win and the Sabres aiming to climb up the standings, this matchup promises to be a closely contested battle on the ice.

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Buffalo Sabres Pick

Given the current odds and recent trends, the Chicago Blackhawks moneyline bet presents a valuable opportunity for an upset. Despite their overall season struggles, the Blackhawks have shown a knack for outperforming expectations against the Sabres, beating the spread in their last three matchups. Additionally, the Blackhawks are coming off a recent victory, which could provide a much-needed confidence boost. While the Sabres may have the home-ice advantage and a slightly better record, the Blackhawks’ ability to keep games close and their recent form suggest they could surprise Buffalo, especially with key players like Jason Dickinson and Philipp Kurashev contributing offensively.

Historically, the head-to-head matchups have favored higher-scoring games, with the total score surpassing the set threshold in two out of the last three encounters. However, the most recent game fell under, indicating a tighter defensive game, which could play into the hands of the Blackhawks, who will be looking to build on their defensive efforts from their last win. With the Sabres’ inconsistency and the Blackhawks’ potential for an upset, the current moneyline for Chicago offers a tempting bet for those looking for value. The Blackhawks’ resilience and the Sabres’ inability to string together consecutive wins this season further support the potential for a Chicago victory in this matchup.

The Pick: Chicago Blackhawks +220 (PointsBet)

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Buffalo Sabres Player Prop Picks

Here are the players who have hit over their current prop line in at least 7 of their last 10 games.

Chicago Blackhawks

Buffalo Sabres