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Game Preview: New Jersey Devils @ Buffalo Sabres
The New Jersey Devils aim to bring their dominant home form on the road Friday as they travel to Buffalo to meet the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. New Jersey has surged to the top of the Eastern Conference behind a 9-0-1 home record, but their road play has lagged at 6-7-0 with three straight away losses. A brief homestand restored momentum, including Wednesday’s 3-2 overtime win over St. Louis where Simon Nemec capped a comeback performance.
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Buffalo, meanwhile, sits at the bottom of the conference but remains respectable at home with an 8-4-2 mark. Their 1-6-2 road record has buried them in the standings, making every home point vital. Their 4-2 loss to Pittsburgh ended a modest two-game winning streak despite controlling shot volume. Bettors tracking league performance through the NHL team index will see this matchup as a contrast between elite home form and home-heavy reliance.
Both teams also enter back-to-back stretches. New Jersey faces the Flyers on Saturday, meaning Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen are expected to split the two games. Buffalo hosts Minnesota the following night, with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen likely taking one start and Colten Ellis or Alex Lyon taking the other, creating uncertainty in Buffalo’s crease.
Odds and Key Information
New Jersey opened around -115 on the moneyline, reflecting their strong overall record (15-7-1) and Eastern Metropolitan Division lead. Buffalo at -103 has drawn interest due to their track record at home and their elevated shot creation rates in recent games. The total is set at 6.0, a number influenced by New Jersey’s speed-driven offense and Buffalo’s volatile defensive results.
Special teams loom large. The Devils snapped a stretch of limited production by scoring a power-play goal against St. Louis, but they remain just 4-for-27 with the extra attacker over their last 12 contests. Buffalo’s penalty kill has been among the league’s best, a detail bettors can explore through situational splits on the NHL scores and odds page. Buffalo will likely attempt to slow New Jersey’s pace, while the Devils will push the tempo and force Buffalo’s defensive rotations to adjust.
Coaching adjustments also matter. Buffalo head coach Lindy Ruff recently shifted Zach Benson onto the top line with Alex Tuch and Tage Thompson, generating immediate scoring against Pittsburgh. The Devils responded to adversity by tightening their penalty kill and pushing play from the half-wall, something they’ll need again versus Buffalo’s pressure forecheck.
New Jersey Devils Outlook
The Devils’ success continues to hinge on aggressive forechecking, active defensemen and consistent goaltending. Their ability to erase deficits against St. Louis showcased their resiliency and scoring depth. Nico Hischier, who scored a power-play goal and emphasized the importance of special teams afterward, continues producing at a strong clip, while Jesper Bratt’s team-high 22 points fuel New Jersey’s transition attack.
Timo Meier’s production has picked up, and his physicality maintains pressure on opposing blue lines. The Devils’ defensive structure has also improved after early-season inconsistencies, with cleaner breakouts and better neutral-zone layers. Markstrom’s recent stretch—2.45 goals-against average and .914 save percentage—provides stability, and his expected rotation with Allen benefits the Devils’ back-to-back setup.
Injury issues persist, particularly with Jack Hughes and Brett Pesce sidelined. Their absences place additional responsibility on depth players, details that appear in the Devils injury report. Even with key pieces missing, the Devils’ shot-share metrics and ability to generate controlled entries make them a formidable matchup. Bettors monitoring offensive profiles across the NHL previews hub will see New Jersey consistently appearing as a high-upside road play when the market undervalues their speed.
Buffalo Sabres Outlook
Buffalo’s season has been defined by large swings, but their home performance remains a stabilizing factor. Their 8-4-2 record at KeyBank Center reflects stronger defensive structure and more reliable puck management. Ruff’s decision to elevate Zach Benson onto the top line revitalized the unit last game, as both Sabres goals came after the adjustment. Benson’s left-handed distribution complements the direct scoring styles of Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch, who lead the team with 21 points apiece.
Offensively, Buffalo ranks top ten in goals and assists, benefiting from depth scoring and efficient transition play. Defensive lapses, however, continue to undermine performances, particularly on the road. Their home defensive split shows improvement, something bettors can observe through breakdowns available in the NHL picks section.
Buffalo’s goaltender rotation is the most significant variable. Luukkonen has started three straight and performed well enough to earn another opportunity, but the club’s second starter remains uncertain heading into Saturday’s back-to-back. Injury absences listed on the Sabres injury report further complicate their lineup structure.
If Buffalo can replicate the shot pressure they generated against Pittsburgh and continue using Benson effectively, they can create mismatches on rushes and sustain offensive pressure against New Jersey’s transition defense.
Key Matchup Table
| Category | New Jersey Devils | Buffalo Sabres |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 15-7-1 | 9-10-4 |
| Home/Away Split | 9-0-1 home; 6-7-0 road | 8-4-2 home; 1-6-2 road |
| Top Scorers | Bratt 22 pts; Hischier 21 pts | Tuch 21 pts; Thompson 21 pts |
| Special Teams Profile | PP slump (4-for-27 last 12 games) | Elite penalty kill |
| Goaltending Projection | Markstrom/Allen rotation | Luukkonen likely; tandem expected |
| Momentum | Two straight wins | Shot-volume spike despite loss to Pittsburgh |
Betting Trends
New Jersey has been successful as a favorite (5-3 straight up) and trends toward higher-scoring games, hitting the over in two of their last three. Their strong 5-on-5 metrics continue to drive handicapping confidence in road environments. The Devils’ pace and possession tendencies appear frequently in analytics-based evaluations within the NHL team dashboards used by market bettors.
Buffalo has shown better puckline reliability recently, going 2-1 in their last three, and their high-event game profile has led to overs in six of their last ten. They thrive at home against high-tempo opponents, contributing to variability in scoring outcomes, something emphasized frequently on the NHL previews portal as teams with strong home splits often outperform market expectations.
The Lean
New Jersey’s depth, transition speed and recent goaltending edge position them slightly ahead entering Friday’s matchup. Buffalo’s home-strength advantage and enhanced top-line chemistry keep them competitive, but the Devils’ ability to generate consistent high-danger chances gives them a slight projection edge. Market pricing at -115 aligns with these metrics.
Projected Score: Devils 4, Sabres 3
Best Moneyline Pick: Devils ML (-115)
Total Lean: Over 6.0
Handicappers evaluating similar profile matchups through the NHL picks page will see this matchup projecting toward late-game scoring with both teams deploying aggressive top-line units.
Why You Need Expert Picks
Back-to-back scheduling and goaltending uncertainty create volatility in NHL betting markets. Bettors leverage the Handicappers Leaderboard to identify analysts who specialize in situational matchups, injury rotation forecasting and pace-based totals. These insights can highlight value in lines before they fully adjust on game day.
For broader strategic guidance, tools in the expert betting guide help bettors understand model variance, lineup depth impacts and timing evaluation, offering an actionable framework across NHL slates.
