| MATCHUP | Buffalo Sabres | Nashville Predators |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 26-17-5 | 23-21-4 |
| Spread | +1.5 -230 | -1.5 190 |
| Moneyline | +105 | -125 |
| Total | Over 6.5 (102) | Under 6.5 (-122) |
| Where | Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN | |
| When | Tuesday, January 20, 2026 | |
| Time | 08:00 PM EST | |
| TV | ESPN+ | |
Nashville Predators Preview
The Predators have 50 points this season with a 23-21-4 record, and are 24-24 ATS and 25-23 in over/under. They have a 13-10-2 home record and a 10-11-2 road record and are sitting 5th in the Central Division. They are coming off a 7-2 road loss to the Golden Knights, and their previous three games were a 7-3 road win over the Avalanche, a 4-3 home overtime win over the Oilers, and a 3-2 home win over the Capitals.
Offensively, the Predators are averaging 2.81 goals per game and are scoring 20.3% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 3.35 goals per game and are killing 80.1% of their opponent’s power plays.
Ryan O’Reilly leads the Predators with 44 points and 28 assists, while Steven Stamkos leads the team in goals with 21. Juuse Saros is the starting goalie for the Predators, and he has a 19-15-3 record, with 2.94 GAA and .898 SV%. Justus Annunen is the backup goalie and he has a 4-6-1 record, with 3.49 GAA and .876 SV%.
Buffalo Sabres Preview
The Sabres have 57 points this season with a 26-17-5 record, and are 25-22 ATS and 23-23 in over/under. They have a 16-6-3 home record and a 10-11-2 road record and are sitting 5th in the Atlantic Division. They are coming off a 2-1 road loss to the Hurricanes, and their previous three games were a 5-4 home overtime loss to the Wild, a 5-3 home win over the Canadiens, and a 5-2 home win over the Flyers.
Offensively, the Sabres are averaging 3.23 goals per game and are scoring 19.4% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 3.13 goals per game and are killing 82.6% of their opponent’s power plays.
Tage Thompson leads the Sabres with 50 points and 25 goals, while Rasmus Dahlin leads the team in assists with 28. Alex Lyon is the starting goalie for the Sabres, and he has a 10-6-3 record, with 2.82 GAA and .906 SV%. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is the backup goalie and he has a 10-7-2 record, with 2.69 GAA and .903 SV%.
Buffalo Sabres @ Nashville Predators Betting Trends: January 20, 2026
Why the Nashville Predators will win
- The Predators have won each of their last five games following a road loss.
- The Sabres have lost three of their last four games on the second leg of a back-to-back against the Predators.
- The home team has covered the puck line in each of the last four games between the Sabres and Predators.
- The Predators have won the third period in each of their last six home games against Atlantic Division opponents when leading after the second period.
Why the Buffalo Sabres will win
- The Sabres have won 15 of their last 16 night games.
- The Predators have lost six of their last nine games as favorites against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The Sabres have covered the puck line in each of their last six games as underdogs.
- The Predators have failed to cover the puck line in seven of their last eight games as favorites against opponents on a losing streak.
- The Predators have lost the third period in each of their last six games at Bridgestone Arena when trailing after the second period.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the Sabres’ last six night games have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Six of the Predators’ last seven games as favorites against opponents who are on the second leg of a back-to-back have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1’ market has hit in each of the last seven games between the Sabres and Predators.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in each of the Sabres’ last eight night games.
Nashville Predators Player Prop Facts
- Brady Skjei has scored at least one goal in four of his last five appearances against the Sabres.
- Ryan O’Reilly has recorded an assist in each of the Predators’ last four games.
Buffalo Sabres Player Prop Facts
- Josh Doan has scored a goal in three of the Sabres’ last four road games.
- Tage Thompson has recorded at least one assist in each of the Sabres’ last five night games.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Nashville Predators rank 27th in the league for goals against per game this season (3.35).
- The Nashville Predators rank T1st in the league in short handed goals allowed this season (0).
- The Buffalo Sabres rank 7th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (82.58%).
- The Buffalo Sabres have recorded the equal-longest road winning streak (7 games) in the NHL this season.
Sabres vs Predators Prediction
Both teams are tied 5-5 in their last 10 meetings and the over is 5-2 in their last 7 meetings.
In this Sabres vs Predators Prediction, the Predators are coming as -130 home favorites. The Sabres have been the better team this season and one of the hottest teams in hockey lately, but they are on the second leg of a road back-to-back and have two straight defeats. On the flip side, the Predators have been playing better at home and are 3-1 in their last 4 games and have won their last two meetings against the Sabres in Nashville. The Predators are favored for a reason, so I will side with them and pick them on the moneyline at home in this one.