Buffalo Sabres vs NY Islanders Prediction 3/31/26 NHL Picks Today

The New York Islanders and the Buffalo Sabres meet Tuesday 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 Islanders vs. Buffalo Sabres prediction.

New York Islanders Recap

The New York Islanders come into this game looking to bounce back from their 8-3 loss at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins last time out to sit at 42-28-5 this season. After this game, New York will head home for a game against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Islanders Have Two-Game Win Streak Snapped

Going into Monday’s game against Pittsburgh, Mathew Barzal has 65 points with 18 goals and a team-high 47 assists while Bo Horvat has 52 points with 30 goals and 22 assists. Matthew Schaefer has 56 points with 22 goals and 34 assists and Anders Lee has 39 points with 16 goals and 23 assists. Emil Heineman has 30 points with 21 goals and 9 assists and Simon Holmstrom has 39 points with 19 goals and 20 assists. Ilya Sorokin is 28-18-2 with a 2.47 GAA and a .914 save percentage while David Rittich is 14-9-3 with a 2.77 GAA and an .895 save percentage in goal for the Islanders so far this season.

Why the New York Islanders will win

• The Sabres have lost five of their last six games as home favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
• The underdogs have won four of the Islanders’ last five games.
• The Sabres have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last six games as home favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
• The Islanders have covered the puck line in each of their last eight Tuesday games as underdogs.

New York Islanders Player Prop Facts

• Matthew Schaefer has scored at least one goal in each of the Islanders’ last four games as underdogs against Atlantic Division opponents.
• Bo Horvat has recorded at least one assist in each of his last five appearances with his team as a road underdog against the Sabres.
• Matthew Schaefer has recorded at least three shots in each of his last eight appearances – longest active streak in the league.

Buffalo Sabres Recap

The Buffalo Sabres come into this game looking to add on to a 3-2 shootout win over Seattle last time out to improve to 45-21-8 this season. After this game, the Sabres will head on the road for a game against Ottawa.

Sabres Snap Three-Game Slide

Tage Thompson leads the Sabres in scoring with 76 points coming on a team-high 37 goals and 39 assists while Alex Tuch has 59 points with 29 goals and 30 assists and Rasmus Dahlin has 67 points with a team-high 50 assists. Josh Doan has 47 points with 23 goals and 24 assists and Ryan McLeod has 50 points with 12 goals and 38 assists. Bowen Byram has 37 points with 10 goals and 27 assists while Jack Quinn’s added 47 points with 17 goals and 30 assists this season. Alex Lyon has gone 20-9-4 with a 2.69 GAA and a .910 save percentage in goal for Buffalo while Colten Ellis is 7-4-1 with a 3.11 GAA and an .896 save percentage so far this season. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has gone 18-8-3 with a 2.57 GAA and a .911 save percentage up to this point in the year.

Why the Buffalo Sabres will win

• The Islanders have lost each of their last eight games at KeyBank Center following a home loss.
• The Sabres have won each of their last seven games against the Islanders following a win.
• The Sabres have covered the puck line in each of their last eight night games at KeyBank Center following an overtime win.
• The Islanders have failed to cover the puck line in four of their last five road games on the second leg of a back-to-back.

Buffalo Sabres Player Prop Facts

• Jason Zucker has scored at least one goal in four of his last five appearances with his team as a favorite against the Islanders.
• Rasmus Dahlin has recorded at least one assist in four of the Sabres’ last five home games against the Islanders.
• Jason Zucker has recorded two blocks against the Islanders this season – equal-most against any opponent.

Total Goals Facts

• Each of the Sabres’ last seven games following an overtime win have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• Eight of the Islanders’ last nine games against the Sabres following a loss have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• Seven of the last eight Tuesday night games between two teams from the Eastern Conference have gone UNDER the total goals line.

New York Islanders vs. Buffalo Sabres Prediction

I’m on the Islanders here. I know it sounds crazy to think the Sabres could struggle once again after the ittle slide they had and the Islanders are on a back-to-back after both goalies saw action on Monday. However, the Islanders had this happen last week and bounced back with a shutout win over the Devils and I think the price is too good to pass on with the Islanders in this one. Give me New York.