New York Islanders vs Buffalo Sabres Prediction 3/31/2026 Today’s NHL Picks

The New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres meet Tuesday in NHL action at the KeyBank Center. Here’s a New York Islanders vs. Buffalo Sabres Prediction. This article will include a New York Islanders vs. Buffalo Sabres Pick.

New York Islanders Betting Preview

The New York Islanders lost to the Penguins, beat the Panthers, and play the Flyers next. The Islanders have split their last 12 games.

The New York Islanders are averaging 2.87 goals per game and are scoring 16.7 percent of their power play opportunities. Bo Horvat leads New York with 30 goals, Mathew Barzal has 48 assists and Matthew Schaefer has 199 shots on goal. Defensively, the New York Islanders are allowing 2.83 goals per game and are killing 81.6 percent of their opponent’s power plays. David Rittich has allowed 74 goals on 699 shots faced, and Ilya Sorokin has given up 124 goals on 1,383 shots.

Buffalo Sabres Betting Preview

The Buffalo Sabres lost to the Red Wings, beat the Kraken, and play the Senators next. The Sabres have won 11 of their last 15 games.

The Buffalo Sabres are averaging 3.43 goals per game and are scoring 20.9 percent of their power play opportunities. Tage Thompson leads Buffalo with 37 goals, Rasmus Dahlin has 50 assists, and Alex Tuch has 176 shots on goal. Defensively, the Buffalo Sabres are allowing 2.95 goals per game and are killing 82 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Alex Lyon has given up 89 goals on 974 shots faced, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has allowed 74 goals on 819 shots.

Why the Buffalo Sabres will win

• The Islanders have lost each of their last seven night games at KeyBank Center following a home loss.
• The Sabres have won eight of their last nine home games against the Islanders.
• The Sabres have covered the puck line in each of their last seven night games at KeyBank Center after coming off a shootout.
• The Islanders have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last four road games following a loss.
• The Islanders have lost the third period in each of their last four games at KeyBank Center when leading after the second period.

Why the New York Islanders will win

• The Sabres have lost four of their last five games as home favorites following a home win.
• The underdogs have won three of the Sabres’ last four games.
• The underdogs have covered the puck line in 10 of the Sabres’ last 11 games at KeyBank Center.
• The Sabres have failed to cover the puck line in nine of their last 10 games as home favorites.
• The Sabres have lost the second period in each of their last four games as favorites against Metropolitan Division opponents when trailing after the first period.

Total Goals Facts

• Nine of the Sabres’ last 10 games against the Islanders following a home win have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• Seven of the Islanders’ last eight night games against the Sabres following a loss have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2′ market has hit in each of the Islanders’ last nine games at KeyBank Center.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in five of the Sabres’ last six games as favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.

Buffalo Sabres Player Prop Facts

• Tage Thompson has scored a goal in each of the Sabres’ last three games against the Islanders.
• Rasmus Dahlin has recorded at least one assist in four of the Sabres’ last five games against the Islanders at KeyBank Center.

New York Islanders Player Prop Facts

• Matthew Schaefer has scored at least one goal in five of the Islanders’ last six games as underdogs against Atlantic Division opponents.
• Mathew Barzal has recorded at least one assist in each of the Islanders’ last seven Tuesday games.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Buffalo Sabres rank 2nd in the league in shorthanded goals this season (10).
• The Buffalo Sabres rank 3rd in the league in save percentage this season (.908).
• The New York Islanders rank 7th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (81.63%).
• The New York Islanders have recorded the most wins when trailing after Period 1 this season (12).

New York Islanders vs Buffalo Sabres Prediction

The Islanders need this game to improve their playoff chances but it’s a rough spot after playing last night and giving up 8 goals to the Penguins. The Sabres are rested and at home, and they’ve been one of the more consistent teams in the league all season. The Sabres also smoked the Islanders in late January on the road, 5-0. The Sabres have won 6 of the last 9 games against the Islanders. The price is reasonable. I’ll side with the Sabres.

Randy Chambers's Pick: Buffalo Sabres