Buffalo Sabres vs Vegas Golden Knights Betting Pick & Prediction 1/4/25

Looking to win big? The Sabres and Golden Knights face off at 10:00 ET on ESPN+. The Golden Knights are hosting the game at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. The over/under goal line for this matchup is currently at 6.5 goals, and the Golden Knights are favored by -1.5 vs. the Sabres.

BUFFALO SABRES VS VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Vegas Golden Knights -1.5

This game will be played at T-Mobile Arena at 10:00 ET on Saturday, January 4th.

WHY BET THE VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS:

• Coming in as 1.5 goal favorites, our projections have the Golden Knights picking up a 4-3 win.
• Take the Golden Knights on the moneyline
• On the spread, we like Sabres (+1.5)

Does Buffalo Have What it Takes on the Road?

Buffalo’s record dropped to 14-21-5 after a 2-1 loss to the Red Wings. The Sabres were underdogs on the puck line and the total was set at 6.5 goals, but the teams combined for just 3 goals.

Buffalo scored first with a short-handed goal from Alex Tuch in the first period, but the Red Wings responded with two power-play goals in the second. The Sabres failed to score again, leaving them without a win in their last three games.

Buffalo’s offense managed just one goal in their 2-1 loss to Detroit, with Alex Tuch scoring his 5th of the season on a shorthanded effort. The Sabres fired 32 shots on goal but couldn’t find the back of the net again, and they were held scoreless on the power play.

Buffalo had 13 giveaways and failed to score after the first period. Tuch, who took 5 shots on goal, netted the team’s only goal at 8:21 of the first period.

Buffalo’s defense allowed two goals, both of which came in the second period on power plays. Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 21 saves with a 91.3% save percentage. The Sabres’ defense also recorded 5 takeaways and 17 hits.

Is A Home Victory Likely for the Favored Golden Knights?

Vegas improved to 26-9-3 with a 4-3 overtime win against Utah. The Golden Knights were favored by -1.5 goals and didn’t cover the puck line. The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, and the combined score of 7 surpassed that mark.

Utah took a 2-0 lead before Vegas responded with four unanswered goals. All four of the Golden Knights’ goals were scored by different players.

Vegas fired 35 shots on goal but only found the net four times in their 4-3 overtime win. Brett Howden’s 6th goal of the season came 2:15 into overtime, while William Karlsson scored his 2nd goal of the year at 14:23 in the 3rd period.

Pavel Dorofeyev opened the scoring for the Golden Knights, netting his 7th goal at 4:54 in the 2nd period. Noah Hanifin added his 2nd goal of the season and also contributed two assists, bringing his assist total to 5 on the year.

Vegas’s defense struggled early, allowing the first two goals of the game, one at 11:52 in the first period and another at 12:00 in the second. After taking a 3-2 lead, they conceded again at 13:10 in the third period. Adin Hill made 16 saves with a save percentage of 84.2%. Defensively, the Golden Knights recorded 10 takeaways and 22 hits.