The Chicago Blackhawks are favored in NHL betting at home on Saturday night as they host the Buffalo Sabres. It has not been a good start for the defending Stanley Cup champs this season. The Blackhawks have yet to win a home game this season as they have started 0-2. They have actually played better on the road and have been worth an NHL bet away from the United Center.
Back to Back – This is a back-to-back for both teams as Buffalo played last night at home against Montreal while Chicago was at Columbus. The Blackhawks are going to be favored because they are at home but there are some definite concerns with the Blackhawks beginning in goal. Chicago let Antti Niemi get away in the off-season and signed Marty Turco. They are beginning to realize that was a major mistake. They should have re-signed Niemi and never gone with Turco but their front office thought they could save a little money. That decision could end up costing the Blackhawks another shot at the Stanley Cup.
Sabres – Buffalo has the goaltending edge in this game as they have Ryan Miller. He is better than anything Chicago has in goal. With Miller in goal the Sabres can be competitive. The problem for Buffalo is that they don’t have many good scorers. Against Chicago’s goaltending it may not matter.
Series History – The Sabres have won five of the last ten meetings between the two teams so they could be worth a shot with an NHL bet at plus money in this game. The Blackhawks did win earlier this week at Buffalo by a score of 4-3. The Sabres won 2-1 at Buffalo in the previous meeting. The Sabres have won two of the last three in Chicago and all three games had five goals or less scored. In this series, four of the last five games have gone under. The one exception was that game on Monday that Chicago won 4-3.
The Blackhawks will get the bulk of the action in NHL betting on Saturday because they are at home and because they are the defending champs but the value at Sbgglobal could be with the Sabres as they are a good team getting plus money.