Sharks with compulsory task at the Sabres?
Neither the Buffalo Sabres nor the San Jose Sharks have started the new year successfully. For both teams, the new calendar year started with a defeat, the Sharks have now even conceded their second defeat in a row. In Buffalo, the visitors from San Jose now want to get back on track and keep their chances of making the play-offs alive.
With the Oilers, meanwhile, in fourth place in the Pacific Division, coming off a loss, San Jose can minimize the gap to Edmonton to one point with a win over the Sabres. Two months ago, the Sharks already won against their upcoming opponents. If the Sabres win again, odds of up to 2.25 are paid for an NHL bet on the visitors in Buffalo Sabres vs. San Jose Sharks.
Buffalo Sabres – Statistics & current form
Buffalo are still in free fall and have conceded their fourth NHL defeat in a row with the latest loss in Boston. The last time the Buffalo franchise won an away game was at the Minnesota Wild, since then they have lost to teams like Pittsburgh, New Jersey, New York and Boston. However, two of the three losses came in overtime.
It’s possible that the ongoing form crisis will now also intensify against the San Jose Sharks. With the current personnel worries, there are hardly any arguments that would reinforce a prediction on the host in Buffalo Sabres vs. San Jose Sharks. Especially since the Sabres have already lost to the Sharks this season.
Eight players are still in the hospital and still have to rest. In addition, the Sabres have only won one of their last ten home games in the NHL. That win was against Montreal, the last team in the Eastern Conference. As expected, the Sabres have no realistic chance of making the play-offs given their low points total.
San Jose Sharks – Statistics & current form
The Sharks have squandered the momentum of their post-Christmas mini-winning streak again this calendar year, most recently conceding two tough defeats in a row. In Buffalo, head coach Bob Boughner’s team will be looking to make amends and close the gap in the play-off race with a win over the Sabres.
San Jose, meanwhile, are in sixth place in the Pacific Division. They are only three points behind the fourth-placed team in the standings, which is the last place for the play-offs, so it is all the more important to score twice in the away game in Buffalo. Just like their opponents, San Jose are still struggling with personnel problems.
The absence of Logan Couture, the second best scorer in the Sharks’ ranks, is particularly serious. Couture has already scored a total of twelve goals for San Jose, and the Canadian also has 17 assists to his name. Nevertheless, even without Couture, the Sharks’ squad is still stronger than the Sabres’ team.
Buffalo Sabres – San Jose Sharks Tip
Buffalo is currently one of the weakest teams in the Eastern Conference. In order to make it into this year’s play-offs, the Sabres will need a small miracle in the top-class Atlantic Division. The upcoming opponent from San Jose, on the other hand, still has a realistic chance of making the NHL play-offs.
The Sharks are currently only three points away from the last play-off spot in the Pacific Division. A win in Buffalo would therefore be of immense importance after the recent losing streak. The result of the first duel of the season is encouraging before the away game with the Sabres. After all, San Jose beat the Sabres 5-3 just two months ago.
