Buffalo Sabres vs New York Islanders Prediction, 12/30/2021 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Buffalo Sabres vs New York Islanders

Date: Thursday, December 30, 2021

Location: UBS Arena in Elmont, NY

TV: MSG

Odds/Point Spread: Sabres (+176) Islanders (-215)

UBS Arena is where the New York Islanders (8-12-6) will attempt to defeat the Buffalo Sabres (10-15-5) on Thursday. The line on this matchup has Buffalo at +176 and New York is priced at -215. The total has been set at 6.

The Buffalo Sabres will need a bounce back game after taking a 3-2 defeat to the Penguins in their last game. The Sabres had a below average offensive outing in the loss. For the outing, they earned a goal on 2 of the 21 shots they put on net. In addition, they had 3 chances on the power play but didn't get a goal. Buffalo tallied 16 penalty minutes in this matchup.

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Buffalo Sabres opponents have amassed 75 power play tries (30th in the league) and have a total of 15 goals in those chances. The Sabres have had 1,023 shots taken against them and have a save percentage of .899. Buffalo has attempted 885 shots and holds a shot percentage of 9.0%. While playing at even strength, the Sabres have given up 88 goals while earning 66 on offense. Buffalo is sitting with 76 power play opportunities and they have notched 14 goals out of those advantages, earning them a rate of 18.42%. For the current campaign, they have earned 25 points and their points percentage comes in at .417. Pertaining to their goal scoring prowess, the Buffalo Sabres have earned 80 goals (24th in the league) for the year and have surrendered 103.

The player between the pipes for this game is Malcolm Subban. In his professional hockey career, Subban has 30 quality starts and his quality starts rate sits at .395. He has a save percentage of .899 for his 4,647 minutes between the pipes. Subban has seen 2,338 shot attempts against him and he has 2,101 total saves. Opponents have racked up 237 goals versus Subban in his career and his goals against rate is 3.06. He has a record of 36-32-9 and he started in 76 games. Subban has been in goal for 84 games over the course of his NHL career.

When they were on the ice last, New York faced the Golden Knights in a game where the Islanders ended up taking the loss by a score of 4-3. The Islanders netted 3 goals of the 32 shots on goal they were seeking. They had 3 attempts on the power play in this game and earned 1 goal out of those opportunities.

So far this season, the New York Islanders have accounted for 57 goals, 22 points, and a points percentage of .423. They have allowed 74 goals to be scored by way of 61 goals at even strength and 13 goals while they were shorthanded. The Islanders have accumulated 45 goals at even strength and 12 goals (29th in the NHL) while having more men on the ice. They have a total of 71 chances on the power play and they have a power play percentage of 16.90%. New York has put up 738 shots (32nd in the league) and has a shooting percentage of 7.72%, while allowing the other team 853 shots. They have a penalty kill rate of 82.43% on their oppositions 74 chances on the power play, and their save percentage is currently 91.3%.

On the other side of the ice you will find Semyon Varlamov in net. The opposition is averaging 2.63 goals/game and he has relinquished 1,350 goals overall. Varlamov's percentage of quality starts is 56.4% and he has earned 289 quality starts in his NHL career. He has started in 512 games and has played for a total of 30,766 mins. Varlamov is sitting with a lifetime record of 252-199-61 and has been in net for 537 games. He has accounted for 14,739 stops out of 16,089 shots taken against him, giving him a percentage of .916.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Buffalo (+176)

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