by Chuck Sommers
Tuesday, Jan 24, 2023
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Venue: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO
Where to watch: BSMW, MSG-B
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Blues -140, Sabres +120
FanDuel: Blues -128, Sabres +106
BetMGM: Blues -140, Sabres +115
Caesars: Blues -135, Sabres +115
Season record
Sabres: 24-19-3
Blues: 23-21-3
We’ve hit the halfway mark in the NHL season. Yes, you read that right. We’re really hit that halfway mark that quickly. If you blinked, you probably missed a lot of good things happen in the hockey world. And with football about to be out of the way, look for our champion handicappers to get back on the rink. Oskeim Sports is on a 13-5-0 run in the NHL over the last 30 days, as is Will Rogers. Sean Murphy has also cashed in with a 16-10-0 run in the last month. Make sure you’re following our champion handicappers at bigal.com to get on this winning action!
Sabres - Blues preview, prediction and analysis
Recent results
Sabres: won 3-2 (OT) at Stars
Blues: lost 5-3 vs. Blackhawks
The Buffalo Sabres will be playing the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday, January 24 in St. Louis, Missouri.
The Buffalo Sabres won against the Anaheim Ducks last Saturday, January 21 in Buffalo, New York with a score of 6-3. The Buffalo Sabres currently rank 5th in the Atlantic Division. Victor Olofsson and Peyton Krebs each scored twice for the Buffalo Sabres.
"I feel like I had a great start, obviously (scored nine goals in his first 11 games this season), and that helped me a lot," Olofsson said. "Then I had a small dip, and I feel like these last 10 games we've been really clicking as a line, too, with [Casey Mittelstadt] and [Tyson Jost]. I feel like we're just feeding off each other, and they're feeding me with great passes."
Ilya Lyubushkin had three assists, and Rasmus Dahlin and Alex Tuch each had two assists for the Sabres. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 34 saves.
"I thought 'Upie' had to be really good consistently when there was a quick lapse," Buffalo coach Don Granato said. "[The Ducks] executed well on some, when we gave up time and space, they executed, and that is going to happen through the course of a game. But I thought 'Upie' was really good, even after the third went in, which is not an easy situation for him. Now it's tied 3-3, there's mounting pressure on the goalie, but I give our guys lots of credit. I felt we were fresh. … Could we have been a little sharper and smarter at times? Absolutely. But obviously glad our guys looked rested."
But that wasn't all. The Sabres followed that with what might be their best win of the year, 3-2 in overtime against the Dallas Stars on Monday. Craig Anderson made 29 saves, giving the floor for UPL heading into this game against St. Louis. Top rookie defenseman Owen Power scored his first goal of the year 56 seconds into overtime.
"Yeah, it's nice," Power said. "I mean, obviously it's been a long time coming, so it was obviously a nice feeling. Hopefully [I] can get some more."
The St. Louis Blues have won six of their last 10 games. Jeff Skinner made it 2-0 at 17:39 when he scored from the high slot on a power play.
The Ducks tied 2-2 at 8:14, then Krebs put the Sabres ahead 3-2 at 10:49. The Anaheim Ducks Simon Benoit's shot from above the right circle through traffic tied it 3-3 at 15:29.
"I think the first two goals we kind of, I don't want to say gave to them, but I guess kicked ourselves in the rear end a little bit," Zegras said. "I feel like that's what we've been doing lately, coming from behind, so I wasn't surprised that we got it tied up. Obviously, the third period, they came out with some good jam, made a couple of good plays."
Olofsson gave Buffalo a 4-3 lead at 2:12 of the third period with a one-timer from the right circle off a cross-ice pass from Lyubushkin.
After Olofsson extended the lead to 5-3 at 8:07 with his 21st goal of the season, an NHL career high, Krebs scored with a wrist shot from the high slot to make it 6-3 at 13:40.
"I think what I've learned is, when you pass through the shot, the passes open up more and when you shoot more, the passes tend to open up more," Krebs said. "I'm just trying to, if the shot's there, definitely make it because I have [Zemgus Girgensons] and [Kyle Okposo] going to the net. And when the pass is there, make one."
Prediction
The Sabres are on a roll right now. Nothing tells me that the Blues can hang with them even on the second half of the back-to-back. Sabres 4, Blues 2
The Buffalo Sabres will be playing the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday, January 24 in St. Louis, Missouri.
The Buffalo Sabres won against the Anaheim Ducks last Saturday, January 21 in Buffalo, New York with a score of 6-3. The Buffalo Sabres currently rank 5th in the Atlantic Division. Victor Olofsson and Peyton Krebs each scored twice for the Buffalo Sabres.
"I feel like I had a great start, obviously (scored nine goals in his first 11 games this season), and that helped me a lot," Olofsson said. "Then I had a small dip, and I feel like these last 10 games we've been really clicking as a line, too, with [Casey Mittelstadt] and [Tyson Jost]. I feel like we're just feeding off each other, and they're feeding me with great passes."
Ilya Lyubushkin had three assists, and Rasmus Dahlin and Alex Tuch each had two assists for the Sabres. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 34 saves.
"I thought 'Upie' had to be really good consistently when there was a quick lapse," Buffalo coach Don Granato said. "[The Ducks] executed well on some, when we gave up time and space, they executed, and that is going to happen through the course of a game. But I thought 'Upie' was really good, even after the third went in, which is not an easy situation for him. Now it's tied 3-3, there's mounting pressure on the goalie, but I give our guys lots of credit. I felt we were fresh. … Could we have been a little sharper and smarter at times? Absolutely. But obviously glad our guys looked rested."
But that wasn't all. The Sabres followed that with what might be their best win of the year, 3-2 in overtime against the Dallas Stars on Monday. Craig Anderson made 29 saves, giving the floor for UPL heading into this game against St. Louis. Top rookie defenseman Owen Power scored his first goal of the year 56 seconds into overtime.
"Yeah, it's nice," Power said. "I mean, obviously it's been a long time coming, so it was obviously a nice feeling. Hopefully [I] can get some more."
The St. Louis Blues have won six of their last 10 games. Jeff Skinner made it 2-0 at 17:39 when he scored from the high slot on a power play.
The Ducks tied 2-2 at 8:14, then Krebs put the Sabres ahead 3-2 at 10:49. The Anaheim Ducks Simon Benoit's shot from above the right circle through traffic tied it 3-3 at 15:29.
"I think the first two goals we kind of, I don't want to say gave to them, but I guess kicked ourselves in the rear end a little bit," Zegras said. "I feel like that's what we've been doing lately, coming from behind, so I wasn't surprised that we got it tied up. Obviously, the third period, they came out with some good jam, made a couple of good plays."
Olofsson gave Buffalo a 4-3 lead at 2:12 of the third period with a one-timer from the right circle off a cross-ice pass from Lyubushkin.
After Olofsson extended the lead to 5-3 at 8:07 with his 21st goal of the season, an NHL career high, Krebs scored with a wrist shot from the high slot to make it 6-3 at 13:40.
"I think what I've learned is, when you pass through the shot, the passes open up more and when you shoot more, the passes tend to open up more," Krebs said. "I'm just trying to, if the shot's there, definitely make it because I have [Zemgus Girgensons] and [Kyle Okposo] going to the net. And when the pass is there, make one."
Prediction
The Sabres are on a roll right now. Nothing tells me that the Blues can hang with them even on the second half of the back-to-back. Sabres 4, Blues 2
Betting trends
Sabres have lost 13 of 14 in St. Louis.
Home team is 6-1 in the last seven meetings.
Sabres have lost 23 of 29 against the Blues.
Blues are 4-1 in their last 5 off two days rest.
Sabres have lost 13 of 14 in St. Louis.
Home team is 6-1 in the last seven meetings.
Sabres have lost 23 of 29 against the Blues.
Blues are 4-1 in their last 5 off two days rest.
Projected lines
Sabres:
Jeff Skinner -- Tage Thompson -- Alex Tuch
JJ Peterka -- Dylan Cozens -- Jack Quinn
Casey Mittelstadt -- Tyson Jost -- Victor Olofsson
Zemgus Girgensons -- Peyton Krebs -- Kyle Okposo
Mattias Samuelsson -- Rasmus Dahlin
Owen Power -- Henri Jokiharju
Jacob Bryson -- Ilya Lyubushkin
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Jeff Skinner -- Tage Thompson -- Alex Tuch
JJ Peterka -- Dylan Cozens -- Jack Quinn
Casey Mittelstadt -- Tyson Jost -- Victor Olofsson
Zemgus Girgensons -- Peyton Krebs -- Kyle Okposo
Mattias Samuelsson -- Rasmus Dahlin
Owen Power -- Henri Jokiharju
Jacob Bryson -- Ilya Lyubushkin
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Blues:
Brandon Saad -- Robert Thomas -- Jordan Kyrou
Pavel Buchnevich -- Brayden Schenn -- Jake Neighbours
Ivan Barbashev -- Noel Acciari -- Josh Leivo
Alexey Toropchenko -- Nathan Walker -- Tyler Pitlick
Nick Leddy -- Colton Parayko
Niko Mikkola -- Justin Faulk
Tyler Tucker -- Calle Rosen
Jordan Binnington
Brandon Saad -- Robert Thomas -- Jordan Kyrou
Pavel Buchnevich -- Brayden Schenn -- Jake Neighbours
Ivan Barbashev -- Noel Acciari -- Josh Leivo
Alexey Toropchenko -- Nathan Walker -- Tyler Pitlick
Nick Leddy -- Colton Parayko
Niko Mikkola -- Justin Faulk
Tyler Tucker -- Calle Rosen
Jordan Binnington
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
