NHL Best Bet of the Day – Blackhawks vs. Sabres (2024)
The National Hockey League’s three-day holiday break concludes this evening. We have an eight-game slate ahead of us providing ample opportunity for prospective bettors to cash in on various wagers. Let’s take a closer look at my NHL best bet of the day between the Chicago Blackhawks (12-21-2) and Buffalo Sabres (12-19-4) from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.
All NHL odds and lines are current as of Friday, December 27th, at 12:30 PM, EST, courtesy of bet365 Sportsbook.
NHL Best Bet of the Day – Blackhawks vs. Sabres
Domenic Lunardo’s 2024-25 NHL Betting Record: 12-19-0 (- 9.08 Units)
Bet Name: CHI Blackhawks Team Total Goals – Over 2.5
Sportsbook: bet365
Odds: (-145)
Wager: 1 Unit
Our best bet between Chicago and Buffalo will target the visiting Blackhawks to exceed their team total goal prop, currently set at 2.5, on a single-unit wager.
The total for this matchup is set at 6. As expected, oddsmakers and sportsbooks are anticipating a relatively high-scoring matchup between two inter-conference opponents.
After the dismissal of Luke Richardson behind the bench in Chicago, there’s a new sheriff in town in the form of Anders Sorensen. In just nine games at the helm, Sorensen has led a rebuilding Blackhawks team to a respectable 4-5-0 (.444) record, amassing 27 goals-for during that span.
Specifically, the Blackhawks have posted some impressive special teams metrics. Notably, ranking 10th in hockey in Power-Play Efficiency (22.5%) and third in Penalty-Kill Efficiency (85.3%).
Furthermore, Superstar sophomore centerman Connor Bedard has also found his offensive stride. Impressively, he’s registered 11 points in nine games (1.22 points per game) since the appointment of the aforementioned Sorensen.
Tonight, the Blackhawks will be up against a reeling Sabres club that continues to fall in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Unfortunately, they have posted just one win in their last 14 games.
Under Lindy Ruff, goaltending has also been a major focal point of concern. Notably, Buffalo ranks 26th in the NHL in Save Percentage (.892), and 27th in both Goals Against per Game (3.40) and Goals-Against-Average (3.11).
On the advanced metrics/analytics side of things, the Sabres have also struggled mightily in the defensive end of the rink thus far this season. Unimpressively, ranking 20th in Expected Goals Against (71.57), 24th in Save Percentage on Shots on Goal (90.36%), and 26th in Goals Against Per 60 Minutes (2.68), via MoneyPuck.
In terms of recent betting trends, the Blackhawks have exceeded 2.5 goals in six of their past 7 contests, accounting for a terrific 85.7% success/hit-rate.
Look for the Blackhawks to continue their offensive flurry. They should tally at least three goals against a porous Sabres team this evening at an adequate (-145) price point. This wraps up our NHL best bet of the day between the Blackhawks and Sabres.
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