Chicago Blackhawks vs. Buffalo Sabres Player Props, Picks and Predictions – Wednesday, Jan. 17

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 Buffalo Sabres (19-21-4) are set to host the Chicago Blackhawks (13-29-2) in a matchup that pits two teams looking to improve their standings. The Sabres are aiming to build on their recent home win, while the Blackhawks are coming off a rare victory and hoping to start a winning streak.

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Buffalo Sabres Odds Info

Moneyline: Chicago Blackhawks +240 (BetMGM) / Buffalo Sabres -275 (BetRivers)

Puck Line: -1.5 – Chicago Blackhawks -110 (BetMGM) / Buffalo Sabres -108 (BetRivers)

Total: 6.0 – +100 (BetMGM) / -113 (BetRivers)

Game Info

Date: Wednesday, Jan. 17

Time: 07:30 PM

Location: KeyBank Center – Buffalo, NY

TV: TNT

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 course of 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, spanning 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 towards high-scoring games, with the total score surpassing the predicted threshold twice and falling short once. Key statistics from these games reveal a competitive edge for the Sabres, who have demonstrated a slightly better win percentage over the seasons in question, with 44.4444% in the 2023-2024 season compared to the Blackhawks’ 31.25%. The Sabres’ goaltending has been notably stronger, with save percentages of 0.923 and 0.885 in their wins, while the Blackhawks’ goaltending save percentage was 0.909 in their sole victory.

The most recent game between these two teams, played on November 19, 2023, ended with a close 3-2 victory for the Buffalo Sabres over the Chicago Blackhawks. The Sabres, who were the favorites with a closing moneyline of -184, managed to secure the win despite the Blackhawks’ efforts. Rasmus Dahlin was a standout player for the Sabres, contributing to the team’s success with a goal and two assists. The Sabres’ goaltender, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, had a strong performance with a save percentage of 0.923, allowing only two goals against 26 shots. On the other hand, the Blackhawks’ goaltender, Petr Mrazek, had a save percentage of 0.85. The game did not reach the over/under line of 6.5, with a total score of 5, marking it as an ‘under’ result. This game continued the trend of the Blackhawks beating the spread, as they were able to keep the game within the 1.5-goal spread despite the loss.

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Buffalo Sabres Predictions

The upcoming game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Buffalo Sabres at the KeyBank Center is more than just a regular-season encounter; it’s a battle of pride between two teams struggling to find consistency. The Sabres, with a slightly better record, are looking to capitalize on their home-ice advantage and string together consecutive wins, something they’ve found challenging this season. The Blackhawks, on the other hand, are coming off a morale-boosting shootout victory and will be keen to prove that their recent win wasn’t a fluke.

Buffalo’s offense is led by Casey Mittelstadt, who tops the team in assists and points, and Tage Thompson, their leading goal scorer. They’ll be up against a Blackhawks team that has struggled defensively but has seen some bright spots from players like Jason Dickinson and Philipp Kurashev, who lead their team in goals and points, respectively. Both teams have had their issues on the defensive end, with the Sabres ranking 22nd in goals against and the Blackhawks not far behind. This game could come down to which team can tighten up defensively and whether the Sabres’ goaltending, which has shown signs of brilliance, can outperform the Blackhawks’ netminders.

Key player matchups to watch include the Sabres’ Thompson against the Blackhawks’ top defensive pairings, as well as how Chicago’s leading scorer Kurashev will fare against Buffalo’s defensive core. With both teams near the bottom of their respective conference standings, this game could be a turning point as they look to climb the ranks and salvage their seasons. The Sabres will be looking to their home crowd for an extra boost, while the Blackhawks aim to silence the opposition’s fans with a strong road performance.

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Buffalo Sabres Pick

The Chicago Blackhawks come into this game as the underdogs, but the value lies in their moneyline bet. Despite their less-than-stellar record, the Blackhawks have shown a knack for beating the spread, particularly in their recent matchups against the Sabres. With the Blackhawks outperforming expectations in all three previous encounters, there’s reason to believe they can pull off an upset. Additionally, their recent shootout victory could provide the momentum they need to overcome the Sabres, who have struggled to win consistently at home this season. The Blackhawks’ key players, such as Jason Dickinson and Philipp Kurashev, have the potential to exploit the Sabres’ defensive weaknesses and make a significant impact on the game.

Historically, the head-to-head data favors the Sabres, but the Blackhawks’ ability to keep games close and their recent form suggest a potential shift in this trend. The Sabres may have a better win percentage this season, but the Blackhawks’ recent performance, including a strong showing from their goaltender, indicates a growing confidence within the team. Given the attractive odds and the Blackhawks’ tendency to exceed expectations against the Sabres, the smart money is on Chicago to secure a victory at the KeyBank Center.

The Pick: Chicago Blackhawks +240 (BetMGM)

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