Andrew McInnis

THE PLAY: 1P Total Over 1.5 (-140)

When it comes to betting first-period overs, the biggest factor I look for is desperation — and that’s exactly what we’re getting from both teams in this matchup.

The Utah Mammoth opened their season on a terrific run, sitting near the top of the NHL standings early on. But their recent road trip completely halted that momentum. They went 1-3 on the trip and managed to score three or more goals only once during that span. Now, back at home and riding a 1-5 skid over their last six games, the Mammoth are in desperate need of a spark. They’ll be facing a Sabres team that’s vulnerable defensively, particularly early in games, and I expect Utah to come out flying with urgency from the opening puck drop.

As for Buffalo, they aren’t exactly in a good mood either. The Sabres were shut out 3-0 by the Blues last Thursday and followed that up with a 6-3 loss to Carolina on Saturday night. Both teams are frustrated, both need a response, and both have enough offensive talent to deliver one.

These two clubs met in Buffalo just last week, and while that game ended 2-1, the underlying numbers told a different story — there were plenty of high-danger chances, and the expected goals suggested a much higher-scoring result.

Heading into this rematch, I’m expecting goals right out of the gate. The first-period over is the clear target, and we may even look to double-dip with the full game or a team total over. With desperation on both sides and plenty of offensive potential, this game has FIREWORKS written all over it.