Detroit vs Buffalo: NHL Match Prediction

2025-03-13 01:30
NHL

2025-03-13 01:30:00
NHL

On March 13, Detroit and Buffalo will face off in Michigan. The Red Wings have lost their momentum, slipping out of the playoff zone after suffering six consecutive regulation defeats. Meanwhile, the Sabres are unlikely to contend for a postseason spot, as Lindy Ruff’s squad sits at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, trailing even 15th-place Pittsburgh. What can we expect from this matchup? Find out in our detailed preview.

Detroit (USA)

Current form: At the start of the year, the Detroit Red Wings were performing well and even managed to secure a spot in the top eight of the Eastern Conference. However, by now, the team has dropped significantly and is currently in 12th place, with 66 points from 64 games. They are just 4 points behind 8th place Columbus, but with their current performance, making it to the playoffs seems unlikely. Detroit has lost the last six games, including disappointing away losses to Washington (2:5) and Ottawa (1:2). The attack has been a major issue, with just nine goals scored in the last five games, which is a very low figure for an NHL team.

Strengths:

The key player for the team remains Lucas Raymond, who has earned 66 points (22 goals and 44 assists). His offensive play is still effective, but overall the team lacks consistency.
The defense is currently the weakest link for the Red Wings, and they struggle to withstand pressure from opponents.

Injuries and Suspensions:

Andrew Copp, Carter Mazur, and Jake Pietr are all out for the upcoming game.

Buffalo (USA)

Current form: The Buffalo Sabres remain at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, which is far from ideal for their fans. With only 56 points in 63 games, they certainly cannot boast of stability. Under Lindy Ruff, the team showed some signs of improvement in early February, but since the end of the month, they’ve only won one of seven games. On the road, the Sabres lost to Tampa Bay (5:6) and Florida (0:4), but at home, they pulled off a surprising victory over Edmonton (3:2). The team’s biggest problem continues to be its terrible defense, allowing 3.49 goals per game on average, with 21 goals conceded in the last five games.

Strengths:

The attack line is showing strong results, especially through Tage Thompson, who consistently finds ways to score.
Despite issues in defense, the team has potential in offensive play and can surprise any opponent.

Injuries and Suspensions:

Jiri Kulich will not travel with the team to Michigan, and John-Jason Peterka’s participation is uncertain.

Prediction

On paper, both teams have their weaknesses, but despite their issues, Detroit appears to be the more balanced and stable team in attack. Buffalo, while capable of creating problems offensively, continues to struggle defensively, making them vulnerable. Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s struggles also affect the team’s performance.

Winner: We expect Detroit to come out on top in this matchup. While the Sabres can cause some issues in attack, their defense simply cannot cope with the pressure. Detroit, despite its instability, has a stronger attack line and will dominate the ice. Expected score: Detroit win, 4:2 or 5:3.

Prediction

Detroit has been struggling with numerous losses in this stretch of the season. The Red Wings return home after a disappointing road trip and are eager to secure a victory. Still in the hunt for a playoff spot, the Michigan team must capitalize on matchups against weaker opponents. Buffalo has been defensively poor, making this a crucial game for Todd McLellan’s squad. With the support of their home crowd, Detroit should have the upper hand against the Sabres.

Our pick: Detroit to win with an Asian handicap (0) at odds of 1.65.

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