Sabres vs. Kraken Odds
| Sabres Odds | -105 |
| Team Odds | -115 |
| Over/Under | 6.5 (-125/+105) |
| Time | Tuesday, 10 p.m. ET |
| TV | ROOT-NW |
| Odds via BetMGM. Get up-to-the-minute NHL Odds here. | |
The 4-1 Buffalo Sabres will look to close out their western road trip on a perfect note when they visit the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena on Tuesday night.
The Sabres have already beaten Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver — all by two goals or more. As for the Kraken, they return home after a two-game trip that saw them beat the Stanley Cup Champion Colorado Avalanche but lose to the rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks.
Here's the latest on both teams and your best bet for the game.
Sabres on a Roll
Is this the year that it finally comes together for the Sabres? They have teased early-season potential from time to time over the last decade, only to collapse as the season wears on.
This year feels like it might be different. Don Granato is an impassioned coach and master motivator. He knows how to get the most out of his players. Syracuse native Alex Tuch is a local boy who plays with pride for the logo. And 2018 first-overall pick Rasmus Dahlin has started off his fifth NHL season at a record-setting pace; he has goals in each of Buffalo's first five games.
Averaging 4.40 goals per game, the Sabres ranked second in scoring heading into Monday, behind only the Pittsburgh Penguins. And they're holding opponents to just 2.20 goals a game, although their underlying numbers at 5-on-5 aren't great. Buffalo sits 22nd in expected goals share, at 46.59%, and has lost key defensemen Henri Jokiharju and Mattias Samuelsson to injury over the last two games.
But so far, their goaltending has held up. With both veteran Craig Anderson and journeyman newcomer Eric Comrie playing well, the club has allowed nearly five fewer goals than expected so far this season.
To fill the holes on the blue line, Kale Clague was recalled from the AHL Rochester Americans on Sunday. Lawrence Pilut was also added on an emergency loan.
Seattle Keeping Pace Despite Early Problems
One of the NHL's busier teams in the early going, the Seattle Kraken have picked up six points in their first seven games and are keeping pace with the playoff teams in the Pacific Division standings.
With the offseason additions of offensive-minded forwards Andre Burakovsky and Oliver Bjorkstrand, along with a strong start from rookie Matty Beniers, scoring is up from last season. Yet while Seattle's 5-on-5 puck possession is strong, controlling 56.06% of expected goals, goaltending remains a problem. The Kraken are giving up 3.86 goals per game, tied for 26th overall, and both Philipp Grubauer and newly acquired Martin Jones are carrying grim .860 save percentages through the club's first seven games.
Grubauer was pulled from last Friday's win over Colorado due to injury, and he is currently listed as day-to-day. Joey Daccord served as backup when Jones guarded the crease for Seattle's 5-4 loss in Chicago on Sunday.
After missing Sunday's game for personal reasons, forward Yanni Gourde is expected back in Seattle's lineup on Tuesday. Joonas Donskoi has not yet played this season, and has now been placed on injured reserve.
Sabres vs. Kraken Pick
While Buffalo's blue-line injuries are a concern, the Sabres are one of the feel-good stories of the early season. They're surfing into Climate Pledge Arena after two days' rest, riding a wave of positive energy. The Sabres are a talented group that's deep in first-round draft picks, they're getting reliable goaltending and they're coming together as a team, confident and executing well.
The Kraken are improved from last season, but they're still struggling to keep the puck out of their own net. That'll be a problem against the Sabres' deep and potent offense.
As the road team, the Sabres are still listed as underdogs on Tuesday. BetMGM has the line at -105 as of Monday evening, which offers decent value. But take a look around — some outlets are offering odds high as +105 for Buffalo on the moneyline.
If you're looking for a player prop, consider Rasmus Dahlin to score in his sixth-straight game. His record-setting streak has to end sometime, but he'll have a good opportunity to extend it against the Kraken's shaky netminding,
Pick: Sabres moneyline (-105); play down to -115
