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One of the NHL’s early-season powerhouses returns to the ice on October 22, as the Detroit Red Wings hit the road for a matchup against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.
Detroit has opened the campaign in impressive fashion, stringing together five consecutive victories to take an early lead atop the Atlantic Division standings.
Buffalo will look to bounce back after seeing its recent winning streak come to an end on Monday night. Here’s a look at our predictions for this intriguing matchup.
- What? NHL: Detroit Red Wings vs. Buffalo Sabres
- When? Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. ET
- Where? KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York
Below are the NHL betting lines from three of the best NHL Hockey betting sites.
| NHL |  |  |  |
| Detroit Red Wings | +105 | +105 | +105 |
| Buffalo Sabres | -134 | -134 | -134 |
| Detroit Red Wings +1.5 | -236 | -236 | -236 |
| Buffalo Sabres -1.5 | +179 | +179 | +179 |
| Over 6 | -117 | -117 | -117 |
| Under 6 | -109 | -109 | -109 |
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings have kicked off the new NHL season in outstanding fashion. They have climbed to the top of the Atlantic Division after stringing together five straight wins. Their success has been built on defensive discipline, as they currently hold the best defensive record in the division. The team’s momentum carried through the weekend with a solid 4-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers, highlighted by two-goal performances from both Dylan Larkin and Emmitt Finnie.
Detroit’s offensive output has also been impressive, as the team has tallied 20 goals so far this season—an average of 3.3 per game. This places them ninth overall in the NHL. Defensively, they’ve allowed only 14 goals across their opening stretch, or just 2.3 per contest, ranking fifth-best in the league. That strong two-way play has earned them a +6 goal differential, also fifth in the NHL.
Special teams have played a role in their early success as well. The Red Wings have converted four power-play goals from 18 opportunities, putting them 11th in total power-play goals and 13th in conversion rate at 22.22%. It’s been a balanced and disciplined start, setting a strong foundation for their push to remain one of the Eastern Conference’s top contenders.
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres have experienced a mixed start to their new NHL campaign, sitting sixth in the Atlantic Division with a 2-4-0 record. Although they recently pieced together a short winning streak, the team enters this matchup looking to rebound from a disappointing loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Monday night. That game slipped away in the final period, as Montreal found the back of the net three times to seal the win. Buffalo’s goals in the defeat came courtesy of Jiri Kulich and Tyson Kozak.
Offensively, the Sabres have managed 15 total goals this season, averaging 2.5 per game. This places them 24th in league scoring. On the defensive side, they’ve allowed 18 goals—about three per contest—ranking 15th in goals against. That leaves them with a -3 goal differential, good for 21st in the NHL.
However, Buffalo’s special teams have been a bright spot. The Sabres have notched five power-play goals on 19 opportunities. They rank fifth in total power-play goals and sixth in conversion rate at an efficient 26.32%. They’ve also added one shorthanded goal, tying them for third in the league in that category. While consistency at even strength remains an area for improvement, their ability to capitalize on special teams could be key to turning their early-season form around.
Detroit Red Wings vs. Buffalo Sabres Betting Picks
Few teams in the NHL have been as impressive defensively as the Detroit Red Wings so far this season. Their structure and discipline at the back have been key to their early dominance. That should serve them well as they head to Buffalo for Wednesday’s matchup. With the Red Wings carrying strong momentum and confidence on both ends of the ice, they look well-positioned to extend their winning streak. For that reason, a Detroit victory appears to be the smart play when making picks for the Red Wings vs. Sabres clash.
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