The Buffalo Sabres (25-19-3) aim to continue their march back into playoff contention with a fifth straight win when they visit the Winnipeg Jets (31-17-1) in Thursday’s NHL action.
A 5-3 victory Tuesday in St. Louis pulled the Sabres to within three points of the faltering Washington Capitals in the race for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference. The Jets return home after closing out a five-game road trip with Tuesday’s 2-1 loss in Nashville but are undefeated in their past five dates at Canada Life Centre.
Latest Betting Notes: Sabres
The Sabres maintained their recent road warrior ways with Tuesday’s victory and have now earned the win in 11 of their past 14 away contests. For the second time in three outings, the Sabres stormed out of the gate in St. Louis to seize a 3-0 first-period lead and fended off a third-period rally by the Blues to extend their current overall win streak to four games.
Buffalo has maintained its torrid pace on the road by averaging 4.29 goals per game and has potted 4.25 goals per game during their current 4-0 overall run. The team once again received contributions from across the lineup in Tuesday’s win with five different skaters bulging the twine.
Tage Thompson led the charge with a goal and two assists. Rookie rearguard Owen Power has also shown flashes of his vast potential with goals in consecutive games, including the game-winner in Monday’s 3-2 overtime triumph in Dallas.
Latest Betting Notes: Jets
The Jets will be eager to get back to home cooking after producing middling results during their just-completed five-game junket. Winnipeg was largely outworked in Tuesday’s loss to the Predators. That was particularly true in the second period when Nashville put the game out of reach with a pair of goals while outshooting the Jets by a wide 18-5 margin.
Overall, the Jets scored just once in each of their three defeats during their road trip. But despite the club’s recent struggle to generate steady results, Mark Scheifele has continued to produce, potting three goals and five points over his past four outings.
Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has also rebounded from a shaky start to the recent road trip, stopping 39 of 41 shots in Tuesday’s loss, and has racked up a .934 save percentage while tallying wins in four straight home starts.
Sabres Player Prop: Alex Tuch At Least 2 Points
Alex Tuch extended his current points streak to six games with a goal and an assist in Tuesday’s win in St. Louis. That performance also extends what has been a torrid pace on the road for the 26-year-old forward, who has piled up 13 goals and 31 points in 22 away contests. Considering his hot start to Buffalo’s current road trip, Tuch offers intriguing value as a +200 wager to record at least two points on Thursday night.
Jets Player Prop: Nikolaj Ehlers At Least 1 Assist
A late start to his season has failed to slow down Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers. The shifty playmaker has averaged one assist per game through his first 13 outings, including five helpers through his first four home dates, and has emerged as an attractive player props betting option, sporting -114 odds to contribute at least one assist tonight.
