The New York Rangers (14-12-1) head to KeyBank Center to face the Buffalo Sabres (11-13-4) on Wednesday night in what promises to be a crucial matchup for both struggling teams.

The Rangers, who have managed just two wins in their last ten games, look to bounce back from a disappointing 2-1 loss to Chicago, while the Sabres aim to snap a concerning seven-game losing streak.

Artemi Panarin leads the Rangers' offense with 15 goals and 19 assists this season, while the Sabres counter with the dynamic duo of Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch, who have combined for 23 goals and 23 assists.

Both teams have shown offensive capability this season, with the Rangers averaging 3.19 goals per game and the Sabres maintaining a respectable 3.00 goals per game, though defensive struggles have plagued both sides.

The last meeting between these teams saw Buffalo dominate with a 6-1 victory, but the Rangers have historically held the upper hand, winning six of their previous ten encounters.

As both teams look to turn their seasons around, this Metropolitan-Atlantic division clash could mark a pivotal moment in their respective campaigns, with goaltending likely to play a decisive role as Igor Shesterkin faces off against Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

Buffalo Sabres vs. New York Rangers: who will win?

For tonight's Buffalo Sabres vs New York Rangers matchup, our predictive model gives the Rangers a 59.8% chance of defeating the Sabres.

New York Rangers: 59.8% win probability

  • Better goal differential (-5 vs -7 for Sabres)
  • Higher league position (9th vs 15th in Eastern Conference)
  • More consistent scoring (86 goals in 27 games vs 85 in 28 games)

Buffalo Sabres: 40.2% win probability

  • Poor recent form (LLLLL in last 5 games)
  • Defensive struggles (92 goals against in 28 games)
  • Lower points total (26 points vs Rangers' 29 points)

At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts. Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts.

Buffalo Sabres vs. New York Rangers odds

Buffalo SabresNew York Rangers
moneyline+120 (via DraftKings Sportsbook)-140 (via Caesars Sportsbook)

Key stats

  • 1
    The Buffalo Sabres have won 11 out of 28 matches this season.
  • 2
    The New York Rangers have won 14 out of 27 matches this season.
  • 3
    With 26 points, the Buffalo Sabres holds the 15th position in the league standings.
  • 4
    New York Rangers's 29 points place them 9th in the rankings.

Buffalo Sabres vs. New York Rangers form

Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
Latest matches
L
L
L
L
L
Victories
0/5 (0%)
Defeats
5/5 (100%)
Dec 10, 2024
Detroit Red Wings6:5Buffalo Sabres
Dec 7, 2024
Utah Hockey Club5:2Buffalo Sabres
Dec 6, 2024
Winnipeg Jets3:2Buffalo Sabres
Dec 4, 2024
Colorado Avalanche5:4Buffalo Sabres
Dec 1, 2024
New York Islanders3:0Buffalo Sabres
New York Rangers
New York Rangers
Latest matches
L
L
W
L
W
Victories
2/5 (40%)
Defeats
3/5 (60%)
Dec 10, 2024
Chicago Blackhawks2:1New York Rangers
Dec 8, 2024
Seattle Kraken7:5New York Rangers
Dec 7, 2024
Pittsburgh Penguins2:4New York Rangers
Dec 3, 2024
New Jersey Devils5:1New York Rangers
Nov 30, 2024
Montreal Canadiens3:4New York Rangers

Buffalo Sabres vs. New York Rangers head to head

Buffalo Sabres

67%

New York Rangers

33%

Nov 8, 2024

New York Rangers

1 : 6

Buffalo Sabres

Dec 24, 2023

New York Rangers

4 : 3

Buffalo Sabres

Nov 28, 2023

New York Rangers

1 : 5

Buffalo Sabres

Oct 12, 2023

Buffalo Sabres

1 : 5

New York Rangers

Apr 10, 2023

New York Rangers

2 : 3

Buffalo Sabres

Mar 31, 2023

Buffalo Sabres

3 : 2

New York Rangers