Saturday NHL Opening Odds
(The Spread) – A total of eight games makes the NHL schedule on Saturday a very intriguing day in the world of hockey.
Everything had been going according to plan for the Detroit Red Wings (37-18-6) as it rode a five-game winning streak into this past week, but a 4-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday was followed by a 4-1 defeat again at home to the lowly Dallas Stars Thursday. Detroit has a chance to turn around its fortunes Saturday night as it travels to Buffalo for a 7:00PM EST start.
Oddsmakers and online sports book Sportsbook.com have made the Red Wings -120 favorites, while the over-under is currently at 5.5. According to the latest trends, Detroit is 33-28-0 on over-unders this season and Buffalo is 28-28-3 on over-unders.
Buffalo (29-25-6) are sitting in the ninth spot in the Eastern Conference, just outside the playoff picture, but its recent play could help them make a push as it has won two in a row with a 4-1 victory over Atlanta and a 4-2 win against Ottawa. The contest versus Detroit will be the final game of a six-game homestand for the Sabres as they lost the first three before rebounding with the two-game win streak.
Goaltender Ryan Millerhas been outstanding for the Sabres in the last two games, stopping 69 out of a possible 72 shots. He is 26-18-5 with a 2.68 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage for the 2010-11 season. Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard is 30-12-3 with a 2.79 GAA on the year, yet has given up seven goals on just 60 shots during the past two Red Wings defeats.
In other NHL action Saturday, the Montreal Canadiens are home to face the Carolina Hurricanes at 7:00PM EST. Montreal is a -150 favorite and the over-under is listed at 5.5. Toronto entertains Pittsburgh at 7:00PM EST as well. The Maple Leafs are -165 favorites, while the over-under is 5.5. Also in Canada, the Vancouver Canucks are home versus the Boston Bruins at 10:00PM EST. Vancouver is a -145 favorite and the over-under is now at 5.5.
Opening NHL Money Line Odds & Over/Under Totals for Saturday, February 26
1 Nashville Predators +100 (5)
2 Dallas Stars -120
3 Colorado Avalanche +185 (5.5)
4 Los Angeles Kings -225
5 Detroit Red Wings -120 (5.5)
6 Buffalo Sabres +100
7 Washington Capitals -155 (5.5)
8 New York Islanders +135
9 Carolina Hurricanes +130 (5.5)
10 Montreal Canadiens -150
11 Philadelphia Flyers -185 (5.5)
12 Ottawa Senators +165
13 Pittsburgh Penguins +145 (5.5)
14 Toronto Maple Leafs -165
15 Boston Bruins +125 (5.5)
16 Vancouver Canucks -145
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