Something has to give when the Sharks bring their two-game losing streak into a matchup with the Sabres, who have lost four in a row. Buffalo has allowed 15 goals during that losing stretch, but San Jose has allowed 14 scores in the last two alone. Could we see some offensive fireworks in this tilt?
Sharks at Sabres Betting Analysis
On the San Jose side
It’s been a rough start to a four-game trip out East for San Jose, who has lost 8-5 at Pittsburgh and 6-2 to Detroit. James Reimer got the start in net in both of those games, allowing 10 of the goals, so his confidence is not in a great spot right now. Reimer has now allowed 4+ goals in three of his last four starts, but San Jose is still favored in Thursday night’s contest.
It’s difficult to back San Jose in this spot not just because they’ve looked bad in the first two games of this road trip but because the captain and second-leading scorer Logan Couture is in the NHL protocols. Defenseman Erik Karlsson and Jacob Middleton are both also questionable with upper-body injuries, and San Jose needs all the help they can get inside their own blue line.
Couture had scored a goal in three straight games, so his loss will be felt likely, at least for the remainder of this road trip. Timo Meier has 11 points in his last ten games, and Tomas Hertl has at least one point in 9 of his last 10.
On the Buffalo side
The Sabres are back home after a 4-1 loss to the Islanders and falling 4-3 in OT at Boston on Saturday. Buffalo is an underdog at home, not just because they’ve lost four in a row but also because the team has been hit very hard by positive COVID tests with seven players in protocols.
Much like San Jose, the Sabres will be without their 2nd leading scorer on Thursday night as Kyle Okposo entered the protocols after Saturday’s loss. Leading scorer Tage Thompson has a multi-point game in three of the last six, so he’ll be tasked to get to struggling San Jose goaltender James Reimer in this matchup.
Malcolm Subban has gotten a couple of starts recently with Buffalo playing on the back to back, but after being off for the last four nights, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen should get the nod on Thursday. He’s allowed four goals in each of his last two starts, but his defense hasn’t done him any favors in giving up 42 and 41 SOG.
Sharks at Sabres Prediction
It’s kind of odd that San Jose is favored in this matchup after they’ve looked back in their first two games on this road trip. That could be a testament to how many Buffalo players are in the health protocols, but the value still has to be on the Sabres here for the home win.
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