Buffalo vs. Chicago: NHL Match Prediction
Buffalo will play at home on December 28, where they will meet Chicago. The Sabres have been on the decline for a long time and will now try to regain a large number of lost points, so Chicago will meet very serious resistance. Our experts, in turn, have prepared a forecast in which they will help you decide on bets

Command Analysis

Buffalo Sabres

Current form
Few expected Buffalo slump to last this long. The team had been unable to win for 13 games in a row, most of which ended in regulation time. In recent games, the team had completely stopped giving a worthy rebuff to its competitors, suffering crushing defeats to Montreal (1:6) and Toronto (3:6). Indeed, the Sabres' main problem was their very unreliable defense, which their opponents constantly took advantage of. The "blades" were also unable to cling to points in a match with Boston, losing with a score of 1:3.
Ruff charges were able to break such a long series of failures on the road to the Islanders, where they unexpectedly showed all their attacking potential, due to which they were able to crush the Islanders with a score of 7:1. Forward Kulikh showed a great game, scoring twice and also giving two assists. It is impossible not to mention the most productive hockey player in this match, defenseman Dahlin, who made a "poker" of assists. Still, the huge number of lost points led to the club dropping to the last line in the Eastern Conference table, and even a victory over New York did not help it rise higher.
Disqualifications and injuries
Buffalo has no problems with its roster. Only Greenway is in the infirmary.
Interesting trends for betting
- On average, Buffalo allows 3.42 goals per game.
The club main problem remains its weak defensive play.
- The Sabres are averaging 10.6 penalty minutes per game.
It is also worth noting the terrible discipline, which leads to constant removals.

Chicago Blackhawks

Current form
Chicago did not please fans with successful results for long. The team winning streak reached three games in a row, and all of them ended in regulation time. The Hawks beat opponents of their level, such as the Islanders (5:3) and Seattle (3:1), as well as the clear favorite in the person of Washington (3:2). In the match with the Capitals, success was achieved mainly due to the efforts of the defensive line, which did not allow the opponent to make a comeback.
True, the Hawks' winning streak was interrupted away to Calgary, where huge problems in defense arose again, which ultimately led to six goals conceded and a natural defeat with a score of 4:6. This time, goalie Mrazek was not so reliable, reflecting only 82% of the shots. As expected, the club also failed to grab points in the match with the current leader of the Western Conference, Minnesota (3:4). True, this time the Blackhawks played on opposite courses and were even able to outshoot their competitor, but this did not bring the desired result. Even the points scored did not help Chicago rise above the last line in the Western Conference table, where it continues to remain.
Disqualifications and injuries
It is worth noting that almost all of Chicago players are in action. Only Brossoit and Martinez remain in the infirmary.
Interesting trends for betting
- On average, Chicago scores just 2.6 goals per game.
The Hawks continue to suffer from their poor offensive production.
- The Blackhawks converted 22.5 percent of their power play attempts.
Despite the weak attack activity, the club performs well when playing with the majority.
Trends
Bet First Goal: Buffalo
Buffalo has opened the scoring in four of the five head-to-head games
1.71Goal in each period bet - yes
In four out of five head-to-head matches, the teams scored a goal in each period
1.50Tip and bets
The long-awaited victory of Buffalo should give strength to the team and allow them to believe in success. The Sabres seemed to have regained their sense of the game, which is why they crushed the Islanders. In the upcoming match, the team will return to their home arena, where, with the support of the fans, they will have even more chances for success, especially in a match with a far from serious opponent in the person of Chicago. Indeed, the Hawks have begun another decline, so there is no point in believing in their victory.
Our prediction is a Buffalo victory at 1.93
Bet on total
We believe that we shouldn't expect a large number of goals scored in the upcoming match. As we have already noted, Chicago is experiencing serious problems with offensive scoring and will once again sit back in defense, trying to stop the Sabres' onslaught.
Forecast - total under six goals for 1.72
Bet on the outcome of the first period
Buffalo, due to its superiority over its opponent, will play first number and will try to create serious pressure on Chicago from the first minutes of the match. We believe that home walls will help the Sabres earn an advantage already at the end of the opening segment.
Prediction - Buffalo win in the first period at 2.46