The Buffalo Sabres (26-21-4) and Los Angeles Kings (29-18-7) clash Monday at Crypto.com Arena. The opening faceoff will be at 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Sabres vs. Kings odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
A streaky Buffalo club appears to be on one of its slides downward after going 5-0-0 from Jan. 19-26. In a stretch wrapped around the league’s all-star break, the Sabres are 0-2-1 and have coughed up 16 goals in 3 games since the win streak.
The Kings opened the 2nd half with a Saturday 6-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Los Angeles is 4-1-1 over its last 6 games and has scored 4 or more goals 4 times over that stretch.
Sabres at Kings odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub Lines last updated at 12:25 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Sabres +130 (bet $100 to win $130) | Kings -150 (bet $150 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Sabres +1.5 (-180) | Kings -1.5 (+155)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -130 | U: +110)
Sabres at Kings projected goalies
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (13-7-2, 3.43 GAA, .896 SV%) vs Pheonix Copley (16-3-1, 2.77 GAA, .901 SV%)
Luukkonen allowed 7 goals on 40 shots Saturday against the Calgary Flames. He’s looking to recapture the form that saw him post a 4-1-1 mark and a .920 SV% over his last 6 starts in January.
Copley pitched a 25-save shutout in Saturday’s win over the Pens. He owns a 2.50 GAA and .907 SV% at home but is also looking to exercise the demons of a misfire last time out against Buffalo (6 GA Dec. 13).
Sabres at Kings picks and predictions
Prediction
Sabres 4, Kings 3
Moneyline
Buffalo has the superior offense and dominated meeting No. 1 back in December.
Monday’s contest is the opener of a 4-game road swing for the Sabres; they have fared well in trip openers the last couple of months.
BACK BUFFALO (+130).
Puck line/Against the spread
One of L.A.’s last 4 wins has been by multiple scores. This is a decent price for bettors unsure about how the visitors will perform defensively and in goal.
BACK BUFFALO +1.5 (-180).
Over/Under
Both clubs are in the top half of the NHL in scoring and both have effective powerplays. The Over is a lean and worth a line watch. Consider a partial-unit Over play if the price on 6.5 drops to -125. Otherwise PASS.
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