In this article, we will formulate an Islanders vs Sabres Prediction for this NHL game on Saturday, December 20th. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this NHL matchup.
Buffalo Sabres Preview
The Sabres have 34 points this season with a 15-14-4 record, and are 15-18 ATS and 16-15 in over/under. They have a 10-5-2 home record and a 5-9-2 road record and are sitting 7th in the Atlantic Division. They are coming off a 5-3 home win over the Flyers, and their previous three games were a 3-1 road win against the Kraken, a 3-2 road win against the Canucks, and a 4-3 road overtime win against the Oilers.
Offensively, the Sabres are averaging 3.06 goals per game and are scoring 20.2% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 3.39 goals per game and are killing 85.4% of their opponent’s power plays.
Tage Thompson leads the Sabres with 30 points and 17 goals, while Rasmus Dahlin leads the team in assists with 23. Alex Lyon is the starting goalie for the Sabres, and he has a 7-6-3 record, with 2.99 GAA and .904 SV%. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is the backup goalie and he has a 4-5-1 record, with 2.91 GAA and .884 SV%.
New York Islanders Preview
The Islanders have 41 points this season with a 19-13-3 record, and are 18-17 ATS and 16-18 in over/under. They have a 10-7-2 home record and a 9-6-1 road record and are sitting 2nd in the Metropolitan Division. They are coming off a 1-4 home loss to the Canucks, and their previous three games were a 2-3 road loss against the Red Wings, a 3-2 home shootout win against the Lightning, and a 5-2 home win against the Ducks.
Offensively, the Islanders are averaging 2.86 goals per game and are scoring 15.9% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 2.77 goals per game and are killing 81.8% of their opponent’s power plays.
Bo Horvat leads the Islanders with 31 points and 19 goals, while Mathew Barzal leads the team in assists with 18. Ilya Sorokin is the starting goalie for the Islanders, and he has a 12-10-2 record, with 2.55 GAA and .910 SV%. David Rittich is the backup goalie and he has a 7-3-1 record, with 2.59 GAA and .905 SV%.
New York Islanders @ Buffalo Sabres Betting Trends: December 20, 2025
Why the Buffalo Sabres will win
- The Islanders have lost each of their last seven games at KeyBank Center following a home loss.
- The Sabres have won seven of their last eight home games against the Islanders.
- The Sabres have covered the puck line in each of their last seven games against the Islanders following a win.
- The Islanders have failed to cover the puck line in six of their last eight games at KeyBank Center.
- In seven of the Sabres’ last eight home games, the team leading after the second period has won the third period.
Why the New York Islanders will win
- The Islanders have won each of their last four games as underdogs against opponents on a winning streak.
- The Sabres have lost eight of their last nine night games following a home win.
- The Islanders have covered the puck line in 11 of their last 12 games as underdogs against the Sabres.
- The Sabres have failed to cover the puck line in seven of their last eight night games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- The Sabres have lost the second period in each of their last seven Saturday games as favorites.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the Sabres’ last 11 games as home favorites against opponents on a losing streak have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Each of the Islanders’ last eight night games against Eastern Conference opponents have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in 13 of the Sabres’ last 14 games as favorites against opponents on a losing streak.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in each of the Islanders’ last eight night games.
Buffalo Sabres Player Prop Facts
- Tage Thompson has scored a goal in each of the Sabres’ last five games.
- Rasmus Dahlin has recorded at least one assist in each of the Sabres’ last five night games at KeyBank Center.
- Tage Thompson has scored a goal in each of his last five appearances – longest active streak in the league.
New York Islanders Player Prop Facts
- Bo Horvat has scored at least one goal in six of his last eight appearances with the Islanders as underdogs.
- Bo Horvat has recorded at least one assist in each of his last six appearances with his team as an underdog against the Sabres.
- Casey Cizikas has recorded 14 career assists against the Sabres – most against any opponent (including playoffs).
Matchup/League Facts
- The Buffalo Sabres rank 1st in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (85.42%).
- The Buffalo Sabres rank 27th in the league for goals against per game this season (3.39).
- The New York Islanders rank 25th in the league in power play percentage this season (15.93%).
- The New York Islanders have recorded the equal-most wins when tied or trailing after Period 2 this season (9).
Islanders vs Sabres Prediction
Both teams are tied 4-4 in their previous 8 meetings and the under is 7-2 in their last 9 meetings.
In this Islanders vs Sabres Prediction, the Sabres are coming as -155 home favorites. Its perhaps the first time that we see the Sabres as such big favorites this season and that is mainly because they are playing very good hockey lately and have four consecutive wins and have been very strong at home. But the Islanders have 7 more points and 4 more wins this season and are 6-3 in their last 9 games, but they are on the second leg of a back-to-back. I have to take the team in better form, that is well-rested and waiting at home, even if they feel overvalued. Take the Sabres on the moneyline in this one.