Welcome back to NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at the games that are scheduled and offers insight and analysis to help predict who will be victorious in head-to-head matchups. Today we are looking at the game between the Buffalo Sabres and the New York Rangers in this round of NHL Predictions. Be sure to check out more NHL Predictions as the 2024-25 season continues.
NHL Predictions
Buffalo Sabres vs. New York Rangers
Time: 7:00 p.m Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
TV: MSG-B; MSG; ESPN+
Coming off a win against the Ottawa Senators, the Buffalo Sabres (5-7-1) will head to Madison Square Garden to face the New York Rangers (8-2–1). This is the first of three matchups between these teams, and the only one in New York City this season. The teams traded 5-1 victories last season before the Rangers took the third game to win the season series. Who will get the upper hand tonight?
Sabres Struggling Special Teams
Owners of the NHL’s longest playoff drought at 13 seasons Buffalo has gotten off to a slow start once again this year. One of the biggest reasons for their start has been their struggle on both special teams units. Heading into tonight’s game the Sabres have a bottom five power play clicking at only 12.8%. Their penalty kill isn’t fairing much better at 73.8%. Compounding their penalty kill trouble, Buffalo ranks in the top ten in penalty minutes, putting even more pressure on that unit. The Sabres will have to be more disciplined in fear of putting the Rangers power play unit that is clicking at 28.1% on the ice. This should be a main area of focus for the Sabres.
As the saying goes your goalie has to be your best penalty killer. So, another area to watch will be the battle between the pipes. Expect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to get the start for the visitors. He will more than likely matchup against Igor Shesterkin who is playing otherworldly. The Sabres will need their goalie to play at his best to have any chance in this one.
Rangers Scoring Goals in Bunches
New York will be looking to complete a perfect three game home stand in this game. They last played on Sunday beating their rival the New York Islanders. They should be well rested and ready to go. One of the main reason for the Rangers early season success has been their high powered offence. They are averaging an even four goals a game so far this season. When scoring three plus goals in a game, New York is 6-1-1. As has been the case in recent seasons the Rangers offence is lead by Artemi Panarin who leads the team in goals, assists and points. He has lit up the Sabres in his career, scoring 14 goals and adding 21 assists in 28 games.
Even when the Rangers aren’t scoring, they have the luxury of having a Vezina Trophy winning goalie. Playing for the biggest goalie contract in NHL history Igor Shesterkin has been stellar so far winning six of his first nine games with a 2.22 GAA and .933 SV%. To top it off one of those wins was a shutout. Even if he doesn’t start Jonathan Quick has been one of the best backup goalies in the league the last couple of seasons. The Rangers always have an advantage in net.
Prediction
The Buffalo Sabres are certainly underdogs heading into this game. They will need to stay out of the penalty box and try to hold the Rangers to two goals or less. With New York’s power play, those keys are likely related. On the Rangers side of the ice, they are deeper and more skilled in pretty much every category. Well rested they will need to get to their game early to show the Sabres this game could be a mismatch.
Prediction: Rangers win 4-1
Prop Bets of The Night
Artemi Panarin enjoys seeing the Sabres at the other end of the rink. A Panarin parlay with him having 3+ shots and scoring a goal has odds of +172 on FanDuel Sportsbook. The 60-minute correct score with the Rangers winning 4-1 has odds of +1600.
Main Photo Credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images
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