The New York Islanders (13-14-7) are set to host the Buffalo Sabres (11-19-4) at UBS Arena in what promises to be a pivotal matchup between two teams desperate to turn their seasons around.
The Sabres enter the contest amid a devastating 13-game losing streak, having managed just 28 goals during this stretch while surrendering an alarming 54 goals to their opponents.
The Islanders, despite their own challenges this season, have shown recent signs of life with five wins in their last ten games, including an impressive 6-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs in their previous outing.
Both teams have struggled offensively this season, with the Sabres averaging 2.82 goals per game and the Islanders posting a mere 2.65 goals per contest.
The matchup features an intriguing goaltending battle between Buffalo's Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.892 save percentage) and the Islanders' Ilya Sorokin (.903 save percentage), whose performances could prove decisive.
Recent history favors the Islanders, who have claimed victory in their last two meetings against Buffalo, including a convincing 3-0 shutout in their most recent encounter at UBS Arena.
New York Islanders vs. Buffalo Sabres: who will win?
For tonight's New York Islanders vs Buffalo Sabres matchup, our predictive model gives the Islanders a 59.75% chance of defeating the Sabres.
New York Islanders: 59.75% win probability
- Better defensive performance (106 goals against vs Sabres' 119)
- Higher points total in standings (33 points vs Sabres' 26)
- Superior win record (13 wins vs Sabres' 11)
Buffalo Sabres: 40.25% win probability
- Poor recent form (5 consecutive losses - LLLLL)
- Weak defensive record (119 goals against, among worst in Eastern Conference)
- Low points accumulation (26 points in 34 games, last in Eastern Conference)
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.
New York Islanders vs. Buffalo Sabres odds
| New York Islanders | Buffalo Sabres | |
|---|---|---|
| moneyline | -150 (via bet365 US) | +130 (via DraftKings Sportsbook) |
Key stats
- 1The New York Islanders have won 13 out of 34 matches this season.
- 2The Buffalo Sabres have won 11 out of 34 matches this season.
- 3With 33 points, the New York Islanders holds the 12th position in the league standings.
- 4Buffalo Sabres's 26 points place them 16th in the rankings.
New York Islanders vs. Buffalo Sabres form
New York Islanders vs. Buffalo Sabres head to head
New York Islanders
50%
Buffalo Sabres
50%
Dec 1, 2024
New York Islanders
3 : 0
Buffalo Sabres
Nov 1, 2024
Buffalo Sabres
3 : 4
New York Islanders
Mar 14, 2024
Buffalo Sabres
4 : 0
New York Islanders
Oct 21, 2023
Buffalo Sabres
3 : 1
New York Islanders
Oct 14, 2023
New York Islanders
3 : 2
Buffalo Sabres
Mar 25, 2023
New York Islanders
0 : 2
Buffalo Sabres
