Panthers & Sabres Have Gone a Combined 6-1 to the Over This Season; Will the Trend Continue Friday?
By Daniel Coyle in NHL Hockey
Updated: April 19, 2020 at 10:37 pm EDTPublished:
- Buffalo Sabres and Florida Panthers have seen the Over go a combined 6-1 so far this season
- Sabres have enjoyed a fast 3-0-1 start while Florida has earned just one win in three outings
- It is a virtual pick’em ahead of Friday night’s clash between the two clubs
The total has regularly gone “Over” in early-season contests involving Buffalo or Florida, going 6-1 over a combined seven games. That sets the scene for a high-scoring affair on Friday, when the Sabres host the Panthers in a matchup pegged as a virtual pick‘em in the Panthers vs Sabres odds.
Panthers vs Sabres Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Panthers | -1.5 (+230) | -110 | Ov 6.0 (-115) |
| Buffalo Sabres | +1.5 (-290) | -110 | Un 6.0 (-105) |
*Odds taken 10/11/19
Sabres Offense Sparks Fast Start
Buffalo has filled the net during the club’s fastest start to a season since 2009, potting 4.5 goals per game while compiling the 3-0-1 record they take into Friday night’s Panthers vs Sabres matchup at KeyBank Center. The Buffalo attack has been led by Jack Eichel.
The Sabres captain has piled up three goals and four assists over a pair of multi-point games, including an impressive four-point performance in Buffalo’s 5-4 overtime victory over the visiting Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night.
The latest edition of SICK MITTS, starring Jack Eichel.#Sabres50 | @BuffaloSabres pic.twitter.com/q4k7qJiEuz
— MSG Networks (@MSGNetworks) October 10, 2019
The Sabres’ high-powered start marks a dramatic turnaround from last season, when the club ranked 24th with 2.76 goals scored per game.
Second-year rearguard Rasmus Dahlin has also enjoyed a strong start, joining Eichel among the NHL scoring leaders with one goal and six assists. The Sabres’ high-powered start marks a dramatic turnaround from last season when the club ranked 24th with 2.76 goals scored per game.
Indeed, the Sabres were simply terrible during a 5-18-3 run to close out last season, scoring more than two goals on just 10 occasions over that 26-game stretch.
Offseason Moves Paying Early Dividends
Offseason moves by Sabres general manager Jason Botterill have paid off in the early going, including the additions of veteran Marcus Johansson and Jimmy Vesey, as well as rookie Victor Olofsson. However, it is the approach of recently hired coach Ralph Kreuger that has made a difference in Buffalo’s early success.
With more depth at his disposal than what coach Phil Housley enjoyed last season, Kreuger’s decision to split up Eichel and Jeff Skinner from the top line has paid off.
With his @NewWaveEnergyCo PPG tonight, Victor Olofsson is on a four-game point streak! 🚨#Sabres50 pic.twitter.com/I2GNqtdBJR
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) October 9, 2019
Playing alongside Johansson on the second line, Skinner has combined with the veteran Swede to score eight points through the first four outings of the season, while Olofsson has thrived playing alongside Eichel and Sam Reinhart on the top line, with the trio producing 17 points.
Panthers Plagued by Porous Defense
Buffalo’s steady scoring could present a serious problem for the Panthers, who have surrendered 14 total goals during a 1-2-0 start. The Panthers are coming off a lopsided 6-3 loss to the red-hot Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday, continuing the shaky defensive play that marked their campaign last season.
The Florida defense ranked 28th in the NHL last season while surrendering 3.41 goals per game, a situation that Panthers general manager hopes to address by signing goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.
Yikes — Panthers paid $10M/season for Bobrovsky and his stat line to start the year is 4.77 GAA & .859 SV% through 3GP.
— Shane Sander 🏒 (@SanderEDM) October 9, 2019
The two-time Vezina Trophy winner has struggled in his South Florida debut, surrendering 11 goals over three appearances, and stopped just 10 of 14 shots before getting pulled in favor of Samuel Montembeault in Tuesday’s loss to Carolina.
Florida Shooters Snakebitten in Early Going
However, not all the blame rests with Bobrovsky. A porous Panthers defense has allowed Bobrovsky and Montembault to be peppered with 100 total shots over the club’s first three outings. And while the Panthers continue to struggle defensively, they have not lacked in offensive opportunities.
Florida shooters put an impressive 50 shots on goal in the team’s loss to the Hurricanes, and also racked up 37 shots in a losing cause while dropping a 5-2 decision to Tampa Bay on opening night.
#FlaPanthers fall 6-3 to Carolina Hurricanes.
Five Takes >> https://t.co/Xo6YzQwaDq pic.twitter.com/qpnoLvDYUv
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) October 9, 2019
High-scoring games have also been common in recent clashes between the Panthers and Sabres, with the “Over” going 3-1-1 in their past five meetings, and 8-5-2 in their past 15.
With the Panthers winning in eight of nine recent dates with the Sabres including three of their past four visits to Buffalo, the Florida offense may finally be poised to bust out Friday, extending the current boon so far this season for sports bettors taking the “Over” when these clubs hit the ice.
Picks: Sabres to win (-110), Over 6.0 (-105)
Sports Writer
Daniel has been writing about sports and sports betting for over 23 years. The seasoned pro has contributed to the likes of Sports Illustrated, Sportsnet, NESN, Bleacher Report, OddsShark, the Globe and Mail, and The Nation magazine.
