Buffalo Sabres vs New York Islanders Betting Pick & Prediction for Saturday on 1/24

bangthebook nhl game preview

The Buffalo Sabres will travel to UBS Arena to take on the New York Islanders in an NHL regular-season game. The Sabres have a record of 28-17-5, while the Islanders stand at 27-18-5. This game is scheduled for Saturday, January 24, 2026, at 1:00 PM and will be aired on ESPN+.

Buffalo is led by head coach Lindy Ruff and plays in the Eastern Atlantic Division. They have a conference record of 16-13 and a division record of 9-5. On the other side, the Islanders, coached by Patrick Roy, belong to the Eastern Metropolitan Division. They hold a conference record of 14-13 and a division record of 7-7. Both teams are looking to improve their standings with a win in this matchup.

Sabres vs Islanders Game Day Info

  • Sport: NHL
  • Teams: Buffalo Sabres vs. New York Islanders
  • Venue: UBS Arena
  • Date: Saturday, January 24, 2026
  • Betting Odds: New York Islanders MoneyLine -118, Buffalo Sabres MoneyLine +100

Buffalo Sabres Team Preview

The Buffalo Sabres have seen some ups and downs in recent games. They secured a win against the Montreal Canadiens, scoring four goals with just 17 shots on goal. Despite fewer shots, the Sabres managed to find the back of the net effectively.

In their game against the Nashville Predators, the Sabres put up a strong performance. They scored five goals from 33 shots, with Noah Ostlund leading with two goals. Goalie Alex Lyon made 31 saves, contributing to the win.

Looking at the Sabres’ top players, Tage Thompson has been a key contributor. He has 26 goals and 26 assists in 50 games. His efforts, alongside players like Alex Tuch and Rasmus Dahlin, have been important for the team this season.

New York Islanders Team Preview

The New York Islanders have shown mixed results in their recent games. They secured a 4-3 win against the Vancouver Canucks but suffered losses to the Seattle Kraken and Calgary Flames. Despite these setbacks, their performance against the Edmonton Oilers was a notable 1-0 victory.

Ilya Sorokin is a key player for the Islanders, with 794 saves this season. His performance has been critical in their wins, including the shutout against the Oilers. In contrast, their loss to the Winnipeg Jets highlighted some defensive issues as they allowed five goals.

Offensively, Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat lead the team in scoring. Barzal has 41 points with 11 goals and 30 assists, while Horvat has 33 points from 21 goals and 12 assists. The Islanders rank 18th in goals and 16th in shots on goal this season, showing areas for potential improvement.

BTB Betting Pick

The New York Islanders are favored to win against the Buffalo Sabres. The Islanders have a moneyline of -118, while the Sabres are at +100. Based on the stats, the Islanders have better goals against ranking and more saves, which could give them the edge. The projected score is Islanders 4, Sabres 3, so picking the Islanders to win seems reasonable.

For the over/under, the line is set at 6.0. Both teams have shown the ability to score, and the projected total is 7 goals. With both teams’ offensive stats being close, going with the over at -117 is a solid choice. The game might see more than 6 goals given their current form.