What: Detroit Red Wings at Buffalo Sabres NHL Picks And Best Bets
When: Monday, December 9, 2024, 7:00 p.m.
Something has to give in the NHL picks as the Detroit Red Wings arrive at Buffalo’s KeyBank Center to face the hometown Sabres. The Red Wings are in the midst of a five-game losing streak (0-3-2). Buffalo has dropped six games in a row (0-4-2).
Generally, when the Red Wings are in Buffalo, it’s been resulting a positive outcome for the Sabres. Buffalo is 4-1 straight up in the last five home games against Detroit.
No wonder then that oddsmakers are leaning toward the Sabres in the NHL picks. Buffalo is set as -145 home favorites.
 | Puck Line | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Red Wings | +1.5 (-205) | +129 | O 6 (-121) |
| Buffalo Sabres | -1.5 (+175) | -145 | U 6 (+105) |
There are three games on a light Monday NHL schedule. We’ve checked the current NHL odds and selected this Atlantic Division clash pitting the Red Wings vs the Sabres as being one of the best bets worth taking in the NHL picks. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s jump right into our betting prediction.
When checking the NHL betting lines at any of the leading Vegas sports betting sites, you’ll find that neither of these teams are top contenders in the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup odds. Overall, the Red Wings are 3-1 SU in their past four games against the Sabres.
The Red Wings are 4-2 SU in the last six games against Buffalo. However, Detroit is 1-5 SU over the club’s past six road games. Detroit is also 1-5 SU in the team’s last six meetings with Atlantic Division opponents. The Sabres are 4-8 SU in the club’s past 12 meetings with Atlantic Division opposition.
The total has gone over in each of the last five games played at Buffalo between these two teams. Overall, in seven of the last 10 games between the two squads, the over has proven to be the correct play on the total. In Detroit’s last 17 games, the under has hit 12 times. And eight of the last 10 games played by the Red Wings against teams from the Eastern Conference also hit on the under. On the other hand, the over has hit in nine of Buffalo’s last 12 games facing teams from the East.
The Red Wings are 8-14-3 SU in the NHL picks as a betting underdog. They are 7-6 against the puck line on the road this season. Buffalo is 6-4 SU as the favorite in the betting line. The Sabres are 8-8 against the puck line on home ice.
Detroit is without the club’s top two goalies. Both No. 1 Cam Talbot and backup Alex Lyon are out due to lower-body injuries. Ville Husso and Sebastian Cossa were both summoned from the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins. Husso, who hasn’t won an NHL game since Dec.. 12, 2023, has started the last four games. Cossa has never played an NHL game.
Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, captain of the Sabres, is questionable due to bask spasms. Buffalo left wing Jordan Greenaway (undisclosed), center Sam Lafferty (lower-body injury), and defenseman Mattias Samuelsson (lower-body injury) are all out.
The Red Wings have scored two goals over the past two games and four goals over the past three games. Detroit has tallied two goals or fewer in 15 of 27 games this season.
Three players – Dylan Larkin (12), Alex DeBrincat (11) and Lucas Raymond (10) – have accounted for 49.25% of the club’s 67 goals. Raymond shows 8-4-12 totals over the past 10 games. The Red Wings are 29th in the 32-team NHL in goals scored.
If your are seeking out a player prop play in your NHL picks, a Tage Thompson anytime goal is always a soild option whenever Buffalo is playing Detroit.
Leading the Sabres with 14 goals this season, the Buffalo center has tallied 10 goals in 17 games against the Red Wings. Thompson was accounting for a pair of goals when the Sabres were 5-3 home-ice winners over Detroit on Oct. 26.
Neither Buffalo (11-13-3) or Detroit (10-13-4) are doing much to inspire confidence. However, the Red Wings seem to save some of their worst performances for visits to Buffalo. They’ve allowed 29 goals in their last five games at the KeyBank Center. And they are 1-4-1 SU in their last six games within the division. Buffalo should also be able to take advantage of Detroit’s NHL-worst 66.67% penalty kill.
The Sabres are 1-5-2- over their past eight home games and 0-2-1 three games into a current five-game homestand. But that 4-1 SU home late Buffalo is holding over Detroit is compelling. The Red Wings did end a seven-game losing streak last March with a 4-1 win over Buffalo. But that victory came in Detroit. Take the Sabres over the Red Wings as home favorites in the Monday Vegas NHL picks.
