| MATCHUP | New York Rangers | Buffalo Sabres |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 1-1-0 | 0-1-0 |
| Where | KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY | |
| When | Thursday, October 9, 2025 | |
| Time | 07:00 PM EDT | |
| TV | ESPN+ | |
The New York Rangers and the Buffalo Sabres meet Thursday in NHL action from the KeyBank Center. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a New York Rangers vs. Buffalo Sabres prediction.
New York Rangers Recap
The New York Rangers come into this game looking to bounce back after starting the season with a 3-0 loss at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins. After this game, the Rangers will head on the road for a rematch against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Rangers Looking To Get Back On Track
The Rangers fell behind with just under a minute to go in the opening frame and then two more New York goals with an empty net in the final minute of the game would prove to be too much for the Rangers to overcome when all was said and done. Mika Zibanejad led the Rangers with 7 shots while Alexis Lafreniere was right behind with 6 shots. Igor Shesterkin took the loss in the start in goal for New York after allowing 1 goal on 29 shots faced in the losing effort to slip to 0-1 on the year.
Buffalo Sabres Team Preview
The Buffalo Sabres come into the 2025-26 season looking to end the longest active playoff drought in the NHL, having not made the playoffs since 2010-11 after a 36-39-7 mark last season. The Sabres still have a fair number of pieces back in their core, most notably Tage Thompson, but JJ Peterka ended up going to Utah, meaning there will need to be improvements from their younger players like Zach Benson and Jiri Kulich. Jason Zucker provides some veteran depth and Josh Norris will be expected to provide top-6 forward punch in the Sabres’ lineup. On defense, Michael Kesselring is expected to anchor the top line along with Rasmus Dahlin along with Owen Power, Bowen Byram and others. Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon make up a decent, but not earth-shattering pair of goaltenders for the Sabres this season.
New York Rangers @ Buffalo Sabres Betting Trends: October 9, 2025
Why the Buffalo Sabres will win
- The Sabres have won 10 of their last 11 games as home underdogs.
- The Rangers have lost each of their last three games as road favorites against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The Sabres have covered the puck line in each of their last six games as home underdogs against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- The Rangers have failed to cover the puck line in eight of their last nine games at KeyBank Center.
- The Sabres have won the first period in seven of their last eight home games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
Why the New York Rangers will win
- The Rangers have won 10 of their last 11 games against the Sabres following a home loss.
- The Sabres have lost four of their last five games.
- The Rangers have covered the puck line in five of their last six road openers.
- The Sabres have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last three games.
- The Rangers have won the second period in each of their last seven games as road favorites.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the Rangers’ last eight games following a loss have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Nine of the last 10 games between the Rangers and Sabres at KeyBank Center have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2′ market has hit in each of the Sabres’ last nine home games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in each of the Rangers’ last eight games.
Buffalo Sabres Player Prop Facts
- Alex Tuch has scored at least one goal in six of the Sabres’ last seven games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- Ryan McLeod has recorded at least one point in each of the Sabres’ last eight games as underdogs against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- Owen Power has recorded an assist in each of the Sabres’ last four home games against the Rangers.
New York Rangers Player Prop Facts
- Mika Zibanejad has scored a goal in four of the Rangers’ last five games against the Sabres.
- Artemi Panarin has recorded an assist in each of the Rangers’ last 11 games as road favorites against Atlantic Division opponents.
- Artemi Panarin has recorded at least one point in each of the Rangers’ last 11 games as road favorites against Atlantic Division opponents.
- J.T. Miller has recorded at least four shots in each of his last zero appearances – [longest/equal-longest] active streak in the league.
Matchup/League Facts
- The New York Rangers rank T1st in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (100.00%).
- The New York Rangers rank T5th in the league for goals against per game this season (3.00).
New York Rangers vs. Buffalo Sabres Prediction
I’m on the Sabres here. I just really didn’t like what I saw from the Rangers in their opener and while the Sabres are far from a world-beater, I know what this Sabres team is. Year after year, they start the season hot, give their fans false hope that they’ll be a playoff team that season and then come December they drop 12-13 games in a row. But we’re not at that point yet and I just think the Sabres can start the season on a high note. Give me Buffalo in this one.