The New Jersey Devils are set to face the Buffalo Sabres on February 2, 2025, at the KeyBank Center. Here’s an analysis of the anticipated game outcomes:
First Period Outcome Prediction:
The Devils have been performing strongly, with a recent 5-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, bringing their record to 29-18-6. In contrast, the Sabres are at 20-26-5 and are positioned last in their division. Given the Devils’ momentum and the Sabres’ struggles, it’s plausible that New Jersey will lead after the first period.
Total Goals Prediction:
The over/under for this matchup is set at 6.5 goals. Considering the Devils’ potent offense and the Sabres’ defensive vulnerabilities, a high-scoring game is likely. Therefore, the total goals could surpass the 6.5 mark.
Most Probable Final Exact Score:
Given the Devils’ recent form and the Sabres’ challenges, a 4-2 victory in favor of New Jersey seems probable.
Best Bets:
- Moneyline: Backing the Devils to win is a solid choice, given their recent performance and the Sabres’ position in the standings.
- Over 6.5 Total Goals: With both teams’ tendencies, betting on the over could be advantageous.
Best Proposition Bets:
- First Period Result: Betting on the Devils to lead after the first period aligns with their recent strong starts.
- Player to Score Anytime: Jack Hughes of the Devils, with 60 points this season, is a strong candidate to find the net during the game.
RECENT TRENDS
New Jersey Devils:
Under is 11-1 in NJ last 12 Sun. games.
NJ are 2-9 in their last 11 Sun. games.
NJ are 2-8 in their last 10 road games.
Buffalo Sabres:
Over is 18-6-5 in BUF last 29 home games.
Over is 6-2-1 in BUF last 9 overall.
BUF are 4-10 in their last 14 vs. Metropolitan.
Head to Head:
Over is 10-2 in the last 12 meetings in Buffalo.
NJ are 6-2 in the last 8 meetings in Buffalo.
As always, while these predictions are based on current data and trends, the unpredictable nature of sports means outcomes can vary. It’s advisable to consider all factors and perhaps consult multiple sources before placing bets.
PREVIEW
The New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres will face off Sunday afternoon for the first time in nearly four months, revisiting early-season matchups that proved indicative of each team’s trajectory.
The Devils will look to build on one of their most dominant victories of the season, while the Sabres aim to play spoiler as New Jersey visits Buffalo for their final meeting of the campaign.
New Jersey has been idle since Wednesday when it delivered a commanding 5-0 win over the visiting Philadelphia Flyers. Meanwhile, the Sabres secured a 4-3 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night, winning the second game of their four-game homestand.
The Devils endured a scoreless first period Wednesday, getting outshot 10-7 before erupting in the second. Ondrej Palat, Luke Hughes, Nathan Bastian, and Dawson Mercer all found the back of the net within a 13-minute span, helping New Jersey rebound from Monday’s 4-2 loss to the Flyers.
The shutout win marked the Devils’ most decisive triumph since a 5-0 rout of the New York Rangers on Dec. 23. They have now won three of their last four games (3-1-0) after enduring a tough stretch in which they lost nine of 11 (2-6-3) from Dec. 28 to Jan. 19.
“This is more like the team we know we can be and how we’re going to win a lot more games,” said Devils right winger Timo Meier. “We can build on this game, especially those last two periods.”
Despite making the playoffs just twice in the past 12 seasons, New Jersey has remained above .500 since opening the 2024-25 campaign with back-to-back victories over the Sabres in the Czech Republic on Oct. 4 and 5.
Entering Saturday, the Devils held a five-point lead over the Columbus Blue Jackets for third place in the Metropolitan Division and sat seven points ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who occupied the Eastern Conference’s final wild-card spot.
Buffalo’s back-to-back season-opening losses triggered a sluggish 1-4-1 start. The Sabres rebounded with a 10-5-0 run from Oct. 19 to Nov. 23 but saw their playoff hopes fade during a grueling 13-game losing streak (0-10-3) from Nov. 27 to Dec. 21.
Still, Buffalo has shown resilience, going 9-7-1 since Dec. 23 despite remaining in last place in the Eastern Conference with 45 points. Six of those victories have come against teams that entered Saturday within four points of a playoff berth.
The Sabres have erased deficits in each of their last three wins. On Friday, they jumped out to a 2-0 first-period lead before allowing three unanswered goals in a span of just under 12 minutes between the first and second periods.
Jason Zucker tied the game with 7:34 left in the second before Jiri Kulich netted his second goal of the night, securing the win with 2:04 remaining in the third.
“We’ve got to continue to build on this,” said Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, who notched two assists. “It wasn’t pretty for 60 minutes, but we found a way, and that’s what it takes in this league.”
