Welcome back to NHL Predictions here at Last Word On Hockey! Each day, we provide in-depth analysis, insights, and predictions for NHL games all season long. This time around, we’re taking a closer look at a matchup featuring the Buffalo Sabres and the New York Rangers.
NHL Predictions New York Rangers vs Buffalo Sabres
Season Series: Rangers 1 – 1 Sabres
How To Watch: TNT, TruTV, HBO MAX, MSG
Time: 7:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
Location: Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.
Rangers Storyline
The New York Rangers are on the rise. Too late in the season to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs of course, as the Rangers were eliminated two weeks ago. Even so, the young players on the Rangers roster have given the team and fans some hope heading into the offseason. Noah Laba, Adam Sykora, and Drew Fortescue have taken big steps. Another young star in Gabe Perreault, who scored a hat trick in a giant win over the Detroit Red Wings, has looked like an important part of this teams future.
TOSS ‘EM ? pic.twitter.com/JxfOi7rSyg
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 4, 2026
New York has won four of their last five, with wins over the New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals, and the Red Wings, all teams fighting for a playoff spot. The Rangers have yet another opportunity to prove themselves against a playoff team. Getting their young guys more reps in will help next year too, as New York will look to them to fill in depth spots.
Credit Image: © Kostas Lymperopoulos/Cal Sport Media
Sabres Storyline
The Buffalo Sabres have broken their playoff drought, making it back to the dance for the first time since 2011 thanks to the work of head coach Lindy Ruff. Buffalo is tied for first in the Atlantic with the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Montreal Canadiens, as this game could carry a lot of importance for playoff seeding. In this game, the Sabres will need Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin to carry their offence. Thompson has had a great year, scoring 78 points in 78 games while scoring over 30 goals. Dahlin leads the team in assists with 52.
Coach of the year contender? He only obliterated the longest playoff drought in @nhl history. Should be a list of one! ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/OhTP7zPmu8
— Pete Guelli (@PeteGuelli) April 7, 2026
Sam Carrick will play his first game against his former team today after the Rangers dealt him at the deadline. Carrick hasn’t put a ton of points, just six in 13 games, but his defensive capabilities are where he shines. On the goaltending side of things, Buffalo has been playing with both Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon consistently. Their stats are eerily similar as well, so it’s unclear who will get the start versus the Rangers, but for what its worth, Luukkonen has played the last four out of five, so Lyon starting is a good bet.
Prediction and Key Bets to Watch
Prediction: Sabres 4-2 Rangers
These two teams have been evenly matched this season, but the Sabres have been more consistent. Sure, the Rangers are playing better as of late, but keeping that up with a lot of inexperienced rookies is easier said then done. Buffalo will be raring to win as many games as possible to improve their playoff seeding, and the Sabres just have more consistent talent than the Rangers right now. This game will be close, but we predict the Sabres to take the win.
For bets to watch, keep an eye on Sam Carrick. Carrick is familiar with the Rangers’ overall strategies, so look out for him to try and get involved. For the Rangers, Mika Zibanejad is someone to keep an eye on. Zibanejad is on a four-game point streak, but hasn’t scored a goal in the last three games. He’s due for a goal, and with the way the Rangers have been humming, he’s likely to find one.
Main Photo Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports
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