Buffalo Sabres at Minnesota Wild 10/23/08 Preview

NHL Betting Preview
Buffalo Sabres (5-0-1) at Minnesota Wild (4-0-0)
Thursday, 8:05 pm Eastern

SBG Global Opening Line: Wild  - 125 ,  Total  5.5 Under – 130

 

Two of the remaining four unbeaten teams in the NHL this season meet on Thursday night in Minnesota as the Wild host the Buffalo Sabres.  Both teams are getting excellent goaltending and timely scoring so far this season.  Ryan Miller has given up just six goals on 105 shots this year and has a 1.45 goals against average. “He’s made the big saves when we needed them, and those big saves give the team confidence, they give you momentum,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. “He’s been right there for us.” SBG Global reports that early Hockey betting has the public taking Wild at Home.

 

Miller was fantastic in the Sabres 3-2 shootout win over the Bruins on Tuesday, stopping 30 shots in regulation and overtime. “Ryan was unbelievable,” said Thomas Vanek.

 

The Wild are also getting excellent goaltending as Niklas Backstrom has allowed just seven goals on 121 shots this season. “We needed a good start and we got a good start for the season, but it’s still 78 games left, so a lot of work ahead,” Backstrom said. “So far, so good.”

 

The Wild have won three of the last four meetings against Buffalo.  The all-time series is tied 4-4.  Here are more Hockey betting stats for Thursday’s game. The

Sabres are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record. The Sabres are 6-2 in their last 8 road games. The Sabres are 5-2 in their last 7 vs. the Western Conference. The road team is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings between the two teams.

SBG Global Current Line: Wild  - 125 ,  Total  5.5 Under – 130

 

The Wild are 4-0 in their last 4 vs. the Eastern Conference. The Wild are 8-2 in their last 10 home games. The Wild are 24-10 in their last 34 Thursday games.

 

The Under is 4-1 in the Sabres last 5 road games. The Over is 4-1 in the Sabres last 5 vs. the Western Conference. The Under is 7-2-1 in the Sabres last 10 vs. the Northwest. The Under is 6-2 in the Sabres last 8 overall. The Under is 23-11-4 in the Sabres last 38 Thursday games. The Over is 7-1-1 in the Wild’s last 9 vs. the Northeast. The Under is 6-1-3 in the Wild’s last 10 home games. The Over is 4-1 in the Wild’s last 5 vs. the Eastern Conference. The Over is 5-2-4 in the Wild’s last 11 overall.

 

Pick: Buffalo 2 out of 5 units