Buffalo Sabres Host St. Louis Blues in Crucial NHL Matchup

The Buffalo Sabres are set to face the St. Louis Blues in an exciting NHL matchup on November 14, 2024, at 7:30 PM ET/4:30 PM PT at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. This game marks the first encounter between the two teams this season and promises to be a thrilling contest given the current form of both teams.

The Buffalo Sabres, with a season record of 7-8-1, have been performing relatively well, especially at home where they are 5-5-0. They have a notable advantage when the opposing team accumulates more penalty minutes, boasting a 4-1-0 record in such situations. Key players like Rasmus Dahlin, who has scored three goals and set up ten assists, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, with a 6-4-1 record and a 2.83 goals against average, will be crucial to the Sabres’ success[2][4][5].

The St. Louis Blues, on the other hand, are struggling with a 7-9 overall record and a 3-4-0 record on the road. They have lost their last three games, including a recent 3-2 loss to the Boston Bruins. Despite this, the Blues have shown strength when scoring three or more goals, going 6-1-0 in such games. Jordan Binnington and Joel Hofer are key goaltenders for the Blues, with Binnington holding a 4-7-0 record and Hofer having a 3-2-0 performance with one shutout[2][5][6].

Predictions and betting odds favor the Sabres, with many analysts suggesting that the home team has a higher likelihood of winning. The Sabres are available at 21/20 to win the game in 60 minutes, and there is a significant chance of the game going over six goals given the offensive capabilities of both teams[3][5][6].

Tage Thompson, who was acquired by the Sabres in the 2018 trade involving Ryan O’Reilly, is a key player to watch. Thompson has been instrumental for the Sabres, leading the team with 11 goals and 18 points in 16 games, although his availability is uncertain due to a lower-body injury sustained in the previous game against the Montreal Canadiens[4].

The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and Hulu, providing fans with multiple options to watch the action live. For those facing broadcast restrictions, a VPN could be a viable solution[2][4].