NY Rangers vs Buffalo Sabres Prediction 1/8/26 NHL Picks Today

The Buffalo Sabres and the New York Rangers meet Thursday in NHL action from Madison Square Garden. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Buffalo Sabres vs. New York Rangers prediction.

Buffalo Sabres Recap

The Buffalo Sabres come into this game looking to add on to their 5-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks last time out to sit at 22-15-4 this season. After this game, Buffalo will head home for a game against the Anaheim Ducks.

Sabres Start New Win Streak

Tage Thompson leads the Sabres in scoring with 38 points coming on a team-high 21 goals and 17 assists while Alex Tuch has 34 points with 13 goals and 21 assists and Rasmus Dahlin has 28 points with a team-high 24 assists. Josh Doan has 28 points with 13 goals and 15 assists and Ryan McLeod has 23 points with 8 goals and 15 assists. Bowen Byram has 22 points with 9 goals and 13 assists while Jack Quinn’s added 22 points with 7 goals and 15 assists this season. Alex Lyon has gone 10-6-3 with a 2.82 GAA and a .906 save percentage in goal for Buffalo while Colten Ellis is 4-3 with a 3.25 GAA and an .895 save percentage so far this season. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has gone 8-6-1 with a 2.61 GAA and a .903 save percentage up to this point in the year.

Why the Buffalo Sabres will win

• The Sabres have won each of their last 11 night games.
• The Rangers have lost each of their last five night games at Madison Square Garden after coming off overtime.
• The Sabres have covered the puck line in each of their last six road games against the Rangers.
• The Rangers have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last six home games against Eastern Conference opponents.

Buffalo Sabres Player Prop Facts

• Josh Doan has scored a goal in each of the Sabres’ last three games.
• Joshua Norris has recorded at least one assist in each of his last seven appearances with his team as a road favorite.
• Joshua Norris has recorded four shots against the Rangers this season – equal-most against any opponent.

New York Rangers Recap

The New York Rangers come into this game looking to bounce back from a 3-2 OT loss at the hands of Utah last time out to sit at 20-18-6 this season. After this game, New York will head on the road for a game against the Boston Bruins.

Rangers Lose 4 Of Last 5

Artemi Panarin has 46 points with 16 goals and 30 assists while Adam Fox has 28 points with 24 assists. JT Miller has 22 points with 10 goals and 12 assists while Will Cuylle has 23 points with 10 goals and 13 assists and Mika Zibanejad has 37 points with 15 goals and 22 assists. Alexis Lafreniere also has 24 points with 15 assists as well this season. Igor Shesterkin has gone 17-12-4 with a 2.47 GAA and a .912 save percentage while Jonathan Quick is 3-6-21 with a 2.23 GAA and a .919 save percentage in goal for the Rangers so far this season.

Why the New York Rangers will win

• The Sabres have lost seven of their last eight games as road favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
• The Rangers have won each of their last five games as underdogs against Atlantic Division opponents.
• The underdogs have covered the puck line in each of the Rangers’ last 11 games at Madison Square Garden.
• The Sabres have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last 10 games as road favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.

New York Rangers Player Prop Facts

• Artemi Panarin has scored at least one goal in four of the Rangers’ last five games against Atlantic Division opponents.
• Artemi Panarin has recorded at least one assist in each of the Rangers’ last eight games as underdogs against Eastern Conference opponents.
• Artemi Panarin has recorded an assist in each of his last four appearances – equal-longest active streak in the league.

Total Goals Facts

• Seven of the Rangers’ last eight night games at Madison Square Garden have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• Each of the Sabres’ last five games against Eastern Conference opponents have gone UNDER the total goals line.

Buffalo Sabres vs. New York Rangers Prediction

I’m on the Sabres here. I just think this is a spot where the Sabres are a team to back until they give you a reason not to. The Rangers have still not been able to get consistent results going at home, and I think it’s telling now that the Sabres are favored on the road in this spot. Give me the Sabres.