Sabres vs Sharks Picks and Prediction – 11/24/2024

The Buffalo Sabres, sitting at 9-9-1, head west to face the 6-11-5 San Jose Sharks. Buffalo enters the game following a narrow 1-0 victory over Los Angeles, while San Jose suffered a 3-2 shootout loss to St. Louis. Both teams look to gain momentum in this matchup. Hit the ice running with our NHL picks.

Buffalo's offense has shown flashes of excellent play, ranking 12th in the league with 61 goals. Tage Thompson, despite his recent absence, leads with 11 goals, and Alex Tuch supports with five goals and seven assists. The power play sits at 18.6%, providing a decent spark in key moments. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen anchors the crease with a .909 save percentage and a 2.61 GAA, including a shutout in the most recent outing. His solid performance underpins a team striving for greater consistency in a competitive Atlantic Division.

Defensively, Buffalo has room for improvement, allowing 61 goals—good for 17th in the league. They hold a respectable penalty kill at 78.8%, but injuries, including Mattias Samuelsson and Jordan Greenway, leave gaps in the lineup. The Sabres must minimize defensive lapses to keep San Jose’s offense at bay.

San Jose’s offense has struggled this season, ranking 21st with 54 goals. Mikael Granlund leads with 15 assists and nine goals, but secondary scoring remains an issue. The power play is modest at 17.6%, and Mackenzie Blackwood in net holds a .907 save percentage and a 3.07 GAA. Despite a tough effort against Detroit recently, consistent offensive contributions are sorely needed.

Defensively, San Jose ranks last in goals allowed (75), exposing significant shortcomings. The penalty kill at 81.3% is a bright spot, ranked 11th in the league. Injuries to key players like Vitek Vanecek and Nico Sturm further test the Sharks’ depth. A disciplined defensive approach will be critical to slow Buffalo’s attack and give the Sharks a chance.

Buffalo’s balanced offense and goaltending edge should give them the upper hand against a struggling Sharks defense. Look for Luukkonen to maintain his strong play and for Buffalo’s forwards to capitalize on San Jose’s defensive lapses. Final Score Prediction: Buffalo Sabres win 4-2.