Welcome to the latest edition of NHL Predictions. Each day, our team here at Last Word on Hockey breaks down head-to-head matchups and other key elements that may influence the outcome of each game. This edition of NHL Predictions dissects the Tuesday, December 31st, 2024 matchup between the Dallas Stars and the Buffalo Sabres.
NHL Predictions
Dallas Stars vs. Buffalo Sabres
Head-to-Head: Sabres 1-0 Stars
Time: 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: Victory+; ESPN+; Sportsnet; Gotham Sports App
The Dallas Stars and the Buffalo Sabres close the 2024 calendar year with their second meeting of the season on Tuesday night in Dallas. The teams have a bitter history since meeting in a controversial 1999 Stanley Cup Final series. Dallas won the Cup, while Buffalo remains one of nine current NHL franchises yet to win it.
The two teams previously met on October 22 in Buffalo. The Sabres came away with a 4-2 victory, thanks to a three-goal spurt to take a 3-0 lead with about 15 minutes remaining in the game. Peyton Krebs and Ryan McLeod tallied goals in the second period, while Tage Thompson scored early in the third.
Defenceman Thomas Harley and forward Tyler Seguin helped Dallas climb within a goal, but an empty-netter from Alex Tuch sealed the Buffalo win. Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 28 shots.
That was one of several disappointing performances the Stars have turned in against inferior teams this season. Will they turn the tide at home?
Dallas Stars Story
The Stars are coming off one of their most complete games of the season after a 5-1 road win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Veteran forwards Matt Duchene and Jamie Benn helped lead the effort with three-point games, each scoring once and adding two assists.
The pair helped contribute to Dallas snapping an 0-for-40 power play drought as many players from whom Dallas expected big things finally clicked at once. Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston each had a goal and an assist. Evgenii Dadonov continued the best season of his career with another goal as Dallas scored five unanswered after allowing an early power play goal to Connor Bedard. The outburst was much needed as the Stars had begun to scuffle offensively with Seguin sidelined by injury.
Dallas picked up two crucial points after falling short against division rival Minnesota on Friday and currently occupies a wild card playoff spot as the fourth-place team in the Central Division.
Buffalo Sabres Story
Meanwhile, Buffalo is one of the worst teams in the NHL and occupies last place in the Eastern Conference. Still, the Sabres have won three in a row, scoring at least four goals in each game. Plus, having already beat Dallas once, they can come into this game with confidence that they’ll be able to compete.
The scoring is also coming from many different sources. Tuch had a hat trick in a 6-2 win over Chicago, but the other three goals came from three different players. In a 7-1 win over the New York Islanders on December 23, six different Sabres scored goals. Tuch, Thompson, and Jason Zucker have been the main playmakers lately, all among the top five point producers on the team. Thompson and Zucker have each scored twice during the three-game winning streak, and Jiri Kulich has added three goals in that span.
The recent streak comes as rumours of a potential trade with the Detroit Red Wings continue to swirl with forward Dylan Cozens and defenceman Bowen Byram as popular names mentioned.
Prediction
Dallas has had good scoring nights like they did on Sunday a few times this season. However, the outburst usually only lasts a couple games. This time, the Buffalo game falls right in that sweet spot, but the Stars cannot overlook the Sabres offensive skill and scoring ability. If Dallas can get out to another fast start, it should end up in the win column by a narrow margin.
Prediction: Stars win 4-3
Prop Bets of the Night
Thompson and Tuch’s recent tears make +230 for an any-time goal an appealing option, especially considering Thompson has 10 points in 12 career games against Dallas. Zucker at +375 to score at any time is also intriguing. On the Dallas side, if you can find anything involving points for Evgenii Dadonov, it should have a good chance. Dadonov has 23 points in 22 games against the Sabres, his most against any NHL team. I also like the possibility of Matt Duchene (+150) and Logan Satnkoven (+220) picking up assists.
Main Photo Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
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The post NHL Predictions: December 31st Dallas Stars vs. Buffalo Sabres appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.