New Jersey Devils vs Buffalo Sabres Prediction, Odds and Picks for Today, 10/04/24

Following a long summer, the NHL is finally back. To kick off the 2024-25 season, the Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils take center stage and collide in Prague. Both the Sabres and Devils missed the playoffs in 2023-24 and have made some key offseason moves that will look to help them both return. The quest for the Stanley Cup officially begins with this, the first regular-season game of the new NHL season. To get you set, we are diving in with our Devils vs Sabres prediction.

As mentioned, both teams made some additions over the offseason — but the Devils clearly made the bigger moves. Trading for elite goaltender Jacob Markstrom is arguably one of the best summer acquisitions in the entire league, as they should finally have a goaltender they can rely on. This, alongside additions like Brett Pesce, Brendon Dillon and Tomas Tatar have made them a much stronger team. Backed by the already young and emerging talent, these Devils will look to take a step that they’ve been expected to take for years. The Sabres should also take a step this season, but with this matchup in particular, they have a very tough task. New Jersey is much more dynamic, led by superstar Jack Hughes and captain Nico Hischier, along with rising stars Dawson Mercer and Jesper Bratt. This is a hungry NJ team that has underachieved for too long, and it boasts too much firepower for the Sabres to contain. As such, New Jersey on the money line is the choice for my Devils vs. Sabres prediction. 

Devils vs Sabres prediction: New Jersey ML (-150) available at time of publishing. Playable to -180.

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