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Islanders vs. Sabres prediction: Buffalo favored to win Saturday's NHL matchup [12/20/2025]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Nick Slade, Chief Content Officer
Get NY Islanders vs Buffalo Sabres predictions for NHL Saturday.
The Buffalo Sabres and NY Islanders will meet in the NHL at KeyBank Center on Saturday, starting at 5:00 PM ET.
Based on updated simulations, Dimers' advanced NHL model predicts the Sabres as the most likely winner of the Islanders vs. Sabres game.
This article offers an expanded analysis of Saturday's matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.
Isles vs. Sabres prediction: Who will win and cover?
Using trusted machine learning and data, we have simulated the result of Saturday's NHL game between the Islanders and Sabres 10,000 times as part of our NHL predictions coverage.
Our independent predictive model currently gives the Sabres a 58% chance of beating the Islanders.
According to our model, the Islanders (+1.5) have a 64% chance of covering the puck line, while the 6-goal over/under has an equal 50-50 chance of hitting.
Islanders vs. Sabres odds
We have researched the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Islanders | Sabres |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | +1.5 (-164) | -1.5 (+145) |
| Moneyline | +150 | -170 |
| Total | o6 (-130) | u6 (-102) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Islanders vs. Sabres picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | Islanders +1.5 | -164 |
| Moneyline | Islanders | +150 |
| Total | Under 6 | -102 |
According to our NHL best bets, the top play to make on this game is Islanders to win.
Islanders vs. Sabres player props
Who will score a goal in Islanders vs. Sabres?
According to our model, Tage Thompson is most likely to score an anytime goal in Islanders vs. Sabres.
Our projections give Thompson a 43.8% chance of scoring a goal at KeyBank Center, while the star is a 9.6% chance of netting the first goal the game.
Anytime goal scorer predictions
NY Islanders
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Mathew Barzal | 30.4% |
| Anders Lee | 27.8% |
| Simon Holmstrom | 24.7% |
| Emil Heineman | 22.6% |
| Jean-Gabriel Pageau | 20.9% |
Buffalo Sabres
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Tage Thompson | 43.8% |
| Alex Tuch | 33.1% |
| Josh Norris | 30.4% |
| Ryan McLeod | 21.0% |
| Josh Doan | 20.3% |
First goal scorer predictions
NY Islanders
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Mathew Barzal | 6.1% |
| Anders Lee | 5.6% |
| Simon Holmstrom | 4.9% |
| Jean-Gabriel Pageau | 4.0% |
| Emil Heineman | 4.0% |
Buffalo Sabres
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Tage Thompson | 9.6% |
| Alex Tuch | 6.4% |
| Josh Norris | 5.9% |
| Josh Doan | 3.9% |
| Ryan McLeod | 3.8% |
Isles vs. Sabres game-day updates and essential details
Saturday's action between the Sabres and Islanders at KeyBank Center is scheduled to start at 5:00 PM ET.
- Who: NY Islanders vs. Buffalo Sabres
- Date: Saturday, December 20, 2025
- Time: 5:00 PM ET/2:00PM PT
- Venue: KeyBank Center
Conclusion
We predict the Sabres, with a 58% win probability, will likely beat the Islanders on Saturday.
AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Islanders vs. Sabres insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are based on the latest data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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Nick Slade, with nearly two decades of experience, is the Chief Content Officer at Cipher Sports Technology Group, overseeing content for Dimers. He specializes in soccer, NBA, and NHL betting, leveraging predictive analytics and machine learning to provide accurate betting insights.
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