by
- The Detroit Red Wings (13-7-3) take on the Buffalo Sabres (10-13-2) for the first time this season
- Alex DeBrincat recently became only the 12th US-born player to score 200 career goals
- Puck drop for Tuesday night’s game from KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY is at 7:30 pm ET
Coming into the season, both the Red Wings and Sabres were expected to compete in the Atlantic after years of futility. But only Detroit has fulfilled that promise so far, with an impressive 13-7-3 record that places them third in their division. Losers of three straight, Buffalo looks like a strong bet to miss the playoffs for the 13th consecutive campaign.
Before we examine the odds for Tuesday’s game and place our bets, here’s where you can find the best Stanley Cup betting sites and the top betting sites for NHL hockey in 2023-24.
Sabres vs Red Wings
 | Spread | Money Line | Total Points |
| Detroit Red Wings | -1.5 (+180) | -126 | Ov 6.5 (-122) |
| Buffalo Sabres | +1.5 (-220) | +105 | Un 6.5 (+100) |
Detroit’s strong start
Detroit is 6-2-2 in its past 10 games following a 5-4 overtime win in Montreal. In Sunday’s victory, Alex DeBrincat became just the 12th US-born player to notch 200 goals in fewer than 500 games. The team’s prized offseason acquisition is leading his club in scoring with 23 points (13 goals, 10 assists). Captain Dylan Larkin is also off to a strong start to the year with eight goals and 14 assists in 21 games.
The Motor City hasn’t seen playoff hockey in seven long years. However, the Red Wings are currently sitting in third in the Atlantic, one point ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Alex DeBrincat scores his 2⃣0⃣0⃣th career goal!#LGRW pic.twitter.com/wnvlagTGCQ
— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) December 3, 2023
Buffalo disappoints yet again
With their 2-1 loss to the Predators on Sunday night, Buffalo has dropped three in a row to fall to 10-13-2. It has been a disappointing year for the Sabres. Tage Thompson has missed the last nine games with an injury and rookie netminder Devon Levi was demoted to the AHL after putting up an ugly .876 save percentage in nine starts.
Casey Mittelstadt leads the team in scoring with five goals and 16 assists in 25 games, while Rasmus Dahlin has recorded five goals and 15 assists from the blueline. Fellow defenseman Owen Power only has one goal and 11 assists after inking a seven-year, $58.45 million contract extension a month ago.
Red Wings vs Sabres
Detroit is a -126 money line favorite and pay out at +180 to cover the 1.5-goal puck line spread. The Sabres have a 5-6 record at KeyBank Center this season while the Wings are 5-4-1 on the road. Derek Lalonde’s club is the NHL’s third-highest scoring team, averaging 3.74 goals per game, and their +18 goal differential ranks No. 6 in the league. Meanwhile, Buffalo has the seventh-worst goal differential at minus-14, allowing the sixth-most goals per game (3.4).
The over/under for Sabres vs Red Wings is set at 6.5 goals. Seven of 10 Detroit road contests have hit the OVER this season while nine of 11 Buffalo home games have gone UNDER.
Saros makes 34 saves, Predators shut down Sabres ⤵️https://t.co/ycetNVFktt
— NHL.com (@NHLdotcom) December 4, 2023
Best Bet
At 15-8 against the spread this year, it’s hard not to take Detroit to cover the -1.5 puck line (+180). We’ll pick the Red Wings to hand the Sabres their fourth-straight defeat with the OVER 6.5 goals.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
