Up arrow
NHL
Games

Utah Hockey Club vs. Buffalo Sabres: Preview, Predictions and Picks for December 7, 2024

Updated on:
Dec 7, 2024 7:12 AM
On Saturday, December 7, 2024, the Utah Hockey Club hits the road to take on the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center, looking to build on their 10-11-4 record. The Sabres, currently sitting at 11-12-3, aim to capitalize on home-ice advantage, where they hold a 6-7-2 record. In this afternoon matchup, both teams will battle for crucial points in a tightly contested league.
Utah Hockey Club vs Buffalo Sabres

Current Odds

UTAH
BUF
Over
Under
UTAH
BUF
UTAH
ML
BUF
ML

Hockey Club vs Sabres statistics

Stat Hockey Club Sabres
Goals For per Game 2.80 2.96
Goals Against per Game 3.00 3.12
Shots per Game 26.9 28.5
Shots Against per Game 28.6 29.0
Power Play Goals 12 12
Power Play Goals Against 22 17
Short Handed Goals 1 3
Short Handed Goals Against 0 0
Penalty Minutes 300 272
Power Play Percentage 16.9 15.4
Penalty Kill Percentage 76.6 80.2

Buffalo Sabres recent games

Game Date Opponent Result Score
12/5/24 vs Winnipeg Jets L 3-2 OT
12/3/24 vs Colorado Avalanche L 5-4
11/30/24 @ New York Islanders L 3-0
11/29/24 vs Vancouver Canucks L 4-3 OT
11/27/24 vs Minnesota Wild L 1-0

Utah Hockey Club recent games

Game Date Opponent Result Score
12/2/24 vs Dallas Stars L 2-1
11/30/24 @ Vegas Golden Knights W 6-0
11/29/24 vs Edmonton Oilers L 4-3 OT
11/26/24 @ Montreal Canadiens W 3-2 OT
11/24/24 @ Toronto Maple Leafs L 3-2

Buffalo Sabres injuries

  • Rasmus Dahlin (D): Day-To-Day
  • Sam Lafferty (C): Injured Reserve
  • Mattias Samuelsson (D): Injured Reserve
  • Jordan Greenway (LW): Injured Reserve
  • Tage Thompson (RW): Injured Reserve

Utah Hockey Club injuries

  • Tij Iginla (C): Out
  • Maveric Lamoureux (D): Injured Reserve
  • Robert Bortuzzo (D): Day-To-Day
  • Connor Ingram (G): Injured Reserve
  • Michael Kesselring (D): Day-To-Day

Hockey Club vs Sabres game info

Type Info
Venue KeyBank Center
Location Buffalo, NY
Puck drop Sat 1:00 PM

Hockey Club vs Sabres predictions

When the Utah Hockey Club hits the ice against the Buffalo Sabres, keep your eyes on Dylan Guenther and Clayton Keller. Guenther, leading the team with 10 goals, has shown some serious chops around the net and could very well capitalize on any defensive lapses by the Sabres. Meanwhile, Keller, with his team-high 22 points, is the kind of player who not only scores but also creates opportunities for his teammates. Given his knack for setting up plays, it wouldn't be surprising to see him adding to his assists and perhaps tipping the scale in Utah's favor.

On the other side of the rink, the Buffalo Sabres have their own aces. Despite the team feeling the absence of Tage Thompson, who's out on injured reserve, Alex Tuch is a player to watch. Tuch leads the Sabres with 24 points and despite being listed as day-to-day, his recent performances suggest he's geared to make a significant impact if he hits the ice. His ability to both score and assist is crucial for the Sabres, especially in tight games like the one they're heading into.

Given the current dynamics and player conditions, predicting a winner is a bit tricky. However, if Alex Tuch is healthy enough to play, his presence could tilt the odds in Buffalo's favor, especially with the game being at the KeyBank Center. But don't count Utah out just yet; their road record is decent, and players like Keller could rise to the occasion. If I had to pick, I'd lean slightly towards the Sabres taking this one, banking on their slightly superior home advantage and the hopeful participation of Tuch. What do you think? Could this game go either way?

Buffalo Sabres

No
Buffalo Sabres
players

Utah Hockey Club

No
Utah Hockey Club
players

More Games