The Buffalo Sabres are 4-2 on the road and 57% favorites to grab another victory in Anaheim against the Ducks tonight.
While I believe the value lies with the home team, I'm backing defenseman Olen Zellweger for two shots with my top Sabres vs. Ducks prediction.
Let's take a closer look at my full slate of NHL picks for Thursday, Oct. 29.
Sabres vs Ducks prediction: Ducks moneyline
I’ll bite on the Anaheim Ducks to pull off the home upset and back them to 47%.
The Ducks look to have a clear advantage on special teams. Their combined power play and penalty kill percentage sits at 101.23%, while the Buffalo Sabres come in at 81.19%.
The Sabres are clicking at less than 10% on the man advantage and bleeding looks on the kill, allowing xG at a higher rate than all but the Canucks and Kraken.
Neither team has out-scored the opposition at 5-on-5, and both sides rank Bottom-7 in pace during that game state.
Special teams are likely to be a big factor, and I trust Anaheim’s more.
COVERS INTEL: Olen Zellweger leads all defenders in 5-on-5 shot attempts since Oct. 12, the first game he started playing 20+ minutes nightly.
Sabres vs Ducks combo
I’m backing the Ducks on the moneyline with Cutter Gauthier to pick up a point and Olen Zellweger to generate at least two shots on target.
Combine a special teams edge with home ice and the Ducks are an appealing underdog.
Gauthier is pacing the team in shots and has five points over four home games despite an abnormally slow start in terms of goal scoring.
Zellweger has recorded multiple shots on goal in seven straight games and earned the trust of Lindy Ruff, playing at least 20 minutes in six of them.
Sabres vs Ducks combo
- Anaheim Ducks moneyline
- Cutter Gauthier Over 0.5 points
- Olen Zellweger Over 1.5 shots
TOP PICK
Sabres vs Ducks player prop: Olen Zellweger Over 1.5 shots
I’m on Zellweger for 2+ shots and see value to 63%.
Zellweger is one of the most efficient shot-generators in the league at his position. He ranks eighth among defensemen in shots on goal per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 play, and cracks the Top-5 when looking at attempts.
The efficiency is rocket fuel when paired with high-end usage, which he’s seeing nightly. Zellweger saw a big spike in minutes without Rasmus Dahlin in the lineup, and that has continued even with the captain back in the mix.
He's played 21+ minutes in two of three games since Dahlin returned while averaging six attempts. If you’re into narratives, it’s worth mentioning this is Zellweger’s first game against his former team.
Sabres vs Ducks goal scorer: Cutter Gauthier
Gauthier leads the Ducks with 59 shot attempts and 28 shots on target over his last nine games.
He didn't convert once during that span but, clearly, it was not for a lack of opportunity.
Gauthier scored on 10.5% of his shots as a rookie and 14.4% during last year’s 41-goal campaign.
Even if he’s closer to the former than the latter, his current 5.3% finishing rate is painfully low for a player with his shooting ability.
The Sabres sit 28th in save percentage and have really struggled to kill penalties. That’ll help Gauthier’s cause.
- Top picks: 16-15, -0.96 units
- Combos: 5-26, -7.62 units
Sabres vs Ducks odds
For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.
- Moneyline: Sabres 57% | Ducks 44%
- Over/Under: Over 6.5 | Under 6.5
- Spread: Sabres -1.5 | Ducks +1.5
For the full slate of NHL matchups, check out our NHL odds board!
Sabres vs Ducks trend
Buffalo has hit the Over in eight of 12 games this season. Find more NHL betting trends.
How to watch Sabres vs Ducks
| Location | Honda Center, Anaheim, CA |
| Date | Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026 |
| Puck drop | 10 p.m. ET |
| TV | SN+, ESPN+ |
Sabres vs Ducks latest injuries
Check out our NHL injuries page for updates on every team.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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