Buffalo Sabres vs Vancouver Canucks Betting Preview 10/19

Sabres vs Canucks Preview

WagerTalk handicapper Dave Cokin offers his thoughts on Tuesday’s cross-conference NHL clash between the Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks. After posting the worst record in the league last season, the Sabres have jumped out to a 2-0 start. What can we expect on Tuesday night as Buffalo welcomes the Vancouver Canucks to town?

Over the last two NHL seasons, Dave is WagerTalk’s net profits leader on the ice. His disciplined approach produces less volume but lots of winners. Stay on top of the latest NHL updates direct from Las Vegas!

Buffalo Sabres vs Vancouver Canucks Prediction

Each week on Twitter, I share some of the games that fell just outside of my comfort zone. Here, I will expand upon those games with reasons why I was drawn in a particular direction, and why I ultimately decided to pass. Again, just to reiterate: As of Monday evening, I have not placed a wager on this game. I am simply sharing some of my notes that may, perhaps, assist in your handicapping as you break down Tuesday’s NHL betting card.

Vancouver Canucks -135 at Buffalo Sabres – The Canucks arrive in Buffalo off a loss in which they played quite well but came out on the losing end at Detroit. The surprising Sabres are 2-0 out of the gate, but I expect regression with Buffalo as their roster is simply not good at all. I give the edge to the Canucks here, but will give the Sabres just enough respect with their early momentum to only make the Vancouver Canucks a lean in this Tuesday clash.

Blank Monday for me. But have posted a Tuesday NHL play plus three college football Best Bets. Everything up at @WagerTalk https://t.co/crCpGZvtUv. And remember it’s $9 Monday at @WagerTalk

— Dave Cokin (@davecokin) October 18, 2021

Hockey Betting 101

What is the Puckline?

The puckline is hockey’s version of the point spread. When betting on the puckline, the favorite is -1.5 goals on the spread, with the underdog at +1.5 goals. Betting on the favorite requires your team to win its game by two or more goals. Conversely, betting on the underdog at +1.5 means that your team can either win the game or lose by one goal, and your ticket will still cash.

Puckline Betting Basics

Since the majority of hockey betting is built around the moneyline, casual bettors might be turned off by laying larger prices with the top teams in the league. Instead of laying -200 or -250 on a strong favorite, a more attractive option might be laying -1.5 goals at a more reasonable price point. Conversely, it can be hard to pull the trigger on a +200 underdog that’s expected to lose their game over 60% of the time. Well, it gets a little easier to put your money on them if you’re getting a +1.5 goal head start.

WagerTalk Live Odds Screen

WagerTalk’s live odds screen features up-to-the-minute lines from a variety of offshore and domestic sports books. Track the moneylines, pucklines, totals and public betting percentages from this week’s NHL games, including Tuesday’s Buffalo Sabres vs Vancouver Canucks showdown, from your desktop or phone.

Looking for more free sports picks and sports betting tips?

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