The Colorado Avalanche (2–0–1) head east to take on the Buffalo Sabres (0–2–0) in a midday Monday clash at KeyBank Center. Puck drops at 12:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+ as the Avs look to continue their unbeaten start, while Buffalo seeks its first win of the new NHL season.
Both teams feature some of the league’s top offensive weapons — Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Tage Thompson headline the action — but early season form suggests the Avalanche’s two-way balance might be too much for the struggling Sabres to handle.
With Colorado favored at -160 and the total set at 6.5 goals, expect a fast-paced matchup where defense, goaltending, and special teams efficiency could decide the outcome.
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📺 Where To Watch Avalanche vs. Sabres? (October 13, 2025)
| Detail | Information |
| Game | Colorado Avalanche vs. Buffalo Sabres |
| Date | Monday, October 13, 2025 |
| Time | 12:30 PM ET |
| Venue | KeyBank Center — Buffalo, New York |
| TV Channel | ESPN+ |
| Live Stream | Fubo (Free Trial Available) |
💰 Betting Odds
| Sportsbook | Puck Line | Total (O/U) | Avalanche ML | Sabres ML |
| BetMGM | COL -1.5 (+150) | 6.5 | -160 | +134 |
| FanDuel | COL -1.5 (+148) | 6.5 | -166 | +140 |
| DraftKings | COL -1.5 (+152) | 6.5 | -180 | +149 |
Consensus Line: Avalanche -160 | Total: 6.5
Implied Score: Avalanche 4 – Sabres 2.5
📊 Team Comparison
| Category | Avalanche | Sabres |
| Record (2024–25) | 46–29–7 | 39–42–1 |
| Goals Per Game | 3.33 (6th) | 3.23 (10th) |
| Goals Allowed Per Game | 2.80 (11th) | 3.50 (29th) |
| Goal Differential | +42 (7th) | -22 (23rd) |
| Power Play % | 25.2% (7th) | 18.7% (24th) |
| Penalty Kill % | 80.5% (12th) | 78.0% (19th) |
| Faceoff Win % | 51.0% | 49.2% |
Edge: Avalanche — deeper lineup, better structure, and superior blue line discipline.
🧊 Matchup Breakdown
Colorado enters this matchup on a roll, outscoring opponents 10–6 through its first three games. The Avs’ top line of MacKinnon–Lehkonen–Necas has been lethal, combining for five goals already. Defensively, Cale Makar continues to dictate tempo, averaging 25 minutes per night while quarterbacking one of the league’s most dangerous power plays.
Buffalo, on the other hand, is struggling out of the gate. Despite Tage Thompson’s elite shot and Rasmus Dahlin’s creativity on the blue line, the Sabres have managed just one goal in two games. With Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen nursing a lower-body injury, backup Alex Lyon will likely get the start — a tough ask against an offense that ranks top five in shots and shot quality.
If Buffalo can’t slow down Colorado’s transition game, this one could get out of hand early.
🧍♂️ Projected Starters
| Avalanche (2–0–1) | Sabres (0–2–0) |
| G: Scott Wedgewood | G: Alex Lyon |
| D1: Cale Makar | D1: Rasmus Dahlin |
| D2: Devon Toews | D2: Owen Power |
| F1: Nathan MacKinnon | F1: Tage Thompson |
| F2: Artturi Lehkonen | F2: Alex Tuch |
| F3: Martin Necas | F3: Jeff Skinner |
| F4: Valeri Nichushkin | F4: Jason Zucker |
⚕️ Injury Report
| Team | Player | Injury | Status |
| Avalanche | Samuel Girard | Upper Body | Out |
| Avalanche | Logan O’Connor | Hip | Out |
| Avalanche | Mackenzie Blackwood | Lower Body | Day-to-Day |
| Sabres | Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen | Lower Body | Out |
| Sabres | Jordan Greenway | Lower Body | Out |
| Sabres | Zachary Benson | Face | Day-to-Day |
| Sabres | Josh Norris | Upper Body | Out |
🌟 Key Player Leaders (2024–25 Season)
| Category | Avalanche | Sabres |
| Goals | Nathan MacKinnon – 32 | Tage Thompson – 44 |
| Assists | Cale Makar – 62 | Rasmus Dahlin – 50 |
| Points | MacKinnon – 116 | Thompson – 72 |
| Plus/Minus | Toews – +28 | Dahlin – +10 |
| Save % (Goalie) | Blackwood – .912 | Luukkonen – .887 |
🎯 Prop Bets to Watch
| Player | Market | Odds | Pick | Reasoning |
| Nathan MacKinnon | Anytime Goal | +115 | Yes | Avalanche’s PP1 catalyst; 11 SOG last 2 games |
| Tage Thompson | Anytime Goal | +160 | No | Faces elite D-pairing (Makar/Toews) |
| Cale Makar | Over 0.5 Assists | -125 | Yes | Quarterbacks 25% PP; strong Sabres PK target |
| Artturi Lehkonen | Over 2.5 Shots | -110 | Over | High-volume winger on 2nd line |
| Avalanche Team Total | Over 3.5 Goals | -120 | Over | Colorado’s depth overwhelms Buffalo |
💵 Betting Trends
| Team | ATS Record (Last 10) | O/U Record (Last 10) | As Favorite/Underdog |
| Avalanche | 7–3 | 4–6 | 47–29 as Favorite |
| Sabres | 3–7 | 6–4 | 22–34 as Underdog |
Trend to Note: Avalanche are 9–2 in their last 11 games vs. Eastern Conference opponents.
🧩 Same Game Parlay (SGP)
| Leg | Pick | Odds |
| Avalanche ML | — | -160 |
| Nathan MacKinnon Anytime Goal | — | +115 |
| Avalanche Over 3.5 Goals | — | -120 |
| Under 6.5 Total Goals | — | -110 |
| Total Parlay Odds | — | +625 |
ClutchBuzz Angle: MacKinnon and Makar lead a controlled win; Avalanche offense rolls but game stays under the total.
🧾 Final ClutchBuzz Prediction
The Sabres have talent, but not the depth to match Colorado’s four-line onslaught. Expect Cale Makar to dictate tempo, MacKinnon to cash in on the power play, and Colorado’s defensive structure to keep Buffalo’s offense bottled up.
Final Score Prediction:
🔵 Avalanche 4 – Sabres 1
✅ ClutchBuzz Betting Picks
- Moneyline: Avalanche (-160)
- Puck Line: Avalanche -1.5 (+150)
- Total: Under 6.5
- Best Prop: MacKinnon Anytime Goal (+115)
- Same Game Parlay: COL ML + MacKinnon Goal + Under 6.5 + Over 3.5 Team Goals (+625)
