The Buffalo Sabres (5-4-3) and Anaheim Ducks (5-6-1) will battle Thursday in Anaheim, California. The opening faceoff at Honda Center will be at 10 p.m. ET (Hulu). Let's analyze NHL odds around the Sabres vs. Ducks odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
2025-26 season series: Tied 1-1, home team won both games
The Sabres and Ducks meet in a showdown of teams that recently cracked their postseason droughts, in the Eastern and Western Conferences, respectively. Both Buffalo and Anaheim have had mixed results with their young rosters attempting to build on that success from last season.
The Sabres have picked up plenty of "loser points" in defeats and shootouts early this season, which could come in handy later on this year when the playoff
picture comes into focus. However, Buffalo sits in seventh place in the Atlantic Division heading into this one after winning it last season.
Buffalo's most-recent outing went much better. G Colten Ellis (2-1-0, 2.28 GAA, .902 SV%) might not be the answer between the pipes, but he is fresh off his second-career shutout in a 2-0 win Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks to kick off the team's West Coast trip. D Olen Zellweger (3G, 2A) scored in the outing with F Zach Benson (1G, 7A) netting his first of the season with an empty netter that did not lack effort.
Meanwhile, the Ducks have tried to keep their heads above water after a poor cross-country trip of their own. Anaheim did round out their 4-game East Coast swing with a 5-4 win against the Philadelphia Flyers that snapped a 5-game losing skid.
But that win is a distant memory thanks to a 6-5 overtime loss Tuesday to the Vancouver Canucks. F A.J. Greer (4 G, 2 A) had 2 goals and an assist while D Jackson LaCombe (1 G, 11 A) had 3 apples of his own against Vancouver. The night ended in heartbreak, though. Greer gave Anaheim a 3-goal lead with 7:37 left in the contest, only for the Canucks to flip the game on its head with a 4-straight goals to win in overtime.
Leading the Sabres with 11 points are F Jack Quinn (6 G, 5 A) and D Owen Power (2 G, 9 A) . F Leo Carlsson (4 G, 11 A) paces the Ducks with 15.
Heading into Thursday, the Sabres at 6-6 against the spread (ATS) and 8-4 Over/Under. The Ducks are 7-5 ATS and 6-6 O/U. The Over hit in both games last season between Buffalo and Anaheim.
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Sabres at Ducks odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:04 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Sabres -145 (bet $145 to win $100) | Ducks +120 (bet $100 to win $120)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Sabres -1.5 (+155) | Ducks +1.5 (-190)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -130 | U: +105)
Sabres at Ducks projected goalies
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (3-3-3, 3.56 GAA, .866 SV%) vs. Lukas Dostal (4-4-1, 3.56 GAA, .872 SV%)
Luukkonen is projected to be in the crease for the Sabres despite Ellis earning the shutout last game. During Luukkonen's tenure in Buffalo, his best success has come while working in a tandem and with Ellis' positive play, coach Lindy Ruff will go back to Luukkonen.
Dostal was between the pipes for the Canucks' comeback win against the Ducks in their last outing. Anaheim needs him to put that effect behind him as quickly as possible.
Sabres at Ducks picks and predictions
Prediction
Ducks 4, Sabres 3
Moneyline
BET DUCKS (+120)
The Ducks are appealing as a home underdog that must shake off a tough loss. While Anaheim did lose, they were the superior team against Vancouver for most of that game. In addition, special teams heavily favorite the Ducks.
The Sabres have the NHL's 25th best penalty kill (71.4%) and have the league's worst power play (9.8%). That's what you call a difference maker.
Puck line/Against the spread
PASS.
The Ducks have a lot more value on the moneyline than the spread.
Over/Under
BET OVER 6.5 (-130)
The Sabres and Ducks hit the Over in both games last season. Not to mention, these 2 rarely play low-scoring affairs. Out of their last 10 meetings, 5 or more goals have been scored 9 times.
Betting odds calculator
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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Buffalo Sabres at Anaheim Ducks odds, picks and predictions
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