Buffalo Sabres vs New York Islanders Prediction, 3/25/2023 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Buffalo Sabres vs New York Islanders

Date: Saturday, March 25, 2023

Location: UBS Arena in Elmont, NY

TV: MSG

Odds/Point Spread: Sabres (+188) Islanders (-225)

UBS Arena is the site where the New York Islanders (37-27-8) will take on the Buffalo Sabres (33-31-6) on Saturday. The moneyline on this contest has the Sabres at +188 while the Islanders open at -225. The over/under comes in at 7.

The Buffalo Sabres will need a bounce back game after taking a 7-3 defeat against the Predators in the last game they played. Buffalo had 11 penalty minutes for this game. The Sabres had a middle of the road offensive output in the defeat. They also had 4 power play tries and scored 1 goal. In the matchup, they tallied a score on 3 out of the 31 shots they tried.

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Buffalo Sabres opponents have amassed 198 power play opportunities (30th in the NHL) and have scored 55 goals in those attempts. The Sabres thus far have had 2,313 shots attempted against them and hold a save percentage of .887. Buffalo has tried 2,254 shots and is the owner of a shooting percentage of 11.1%. When at even strength, the Sabres have allowed 206 goals while scoring 193 of their own. Buffalo is sitting with 232 power play opportunities and they have notched 57 goals during those advantages, giving them a rate of 24.57%. For the current campaign, they sit with 72 points and their points percentage sits at .514. In terms of their goal scoring prowess, the Buffalo Sabres have accounted for 250 goals (4th in the National Hockey League) on the season and have conceded 261.

The man in goal for this game is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. The opposition has notched 145 goals versus Luukkonen in his career and his average for goals against per game is 3.47. Luukkonen has been involved in 44 matchups during his pro hockey career. He has a save percentage of .897 for his 2,510 mins between the pipes. He has a mark of 18-19-6 and he has gotten the start in 43 games. In his professional hockey career, Luukkonen has 20 quality starts and his quality starts percentage sits at .465. Luukkonen has had 1,407 shot attempts against him and has recorded 1,262 saves.

In their last contest, New York faced off against the Maple Leafs in a game where the Islanders ended up with the win by a mark of 7-2. The Islanders tallied 7 goals out of the 29 shots on goal they tried. They had 2 opportunities on the power play in this one but didn't put one in the back of the net.

So far this year, the New York Islanders have accounted for 215 goals, 82 points, in addition to a points percentage of .569. They have allowed 193 goals to be scored by way of 157 goals at even strength and 36 goals while they were shorthanded. The Islanders have accumulated 182 goals at even strength and 33 goals (30th in professional hockey) while on the power play. They have a tally of 202 power play opportunities and they have earned a power play rate of 16.34%. New York has tried 2,197 shots (20th in professional hockey) and has a shooting percentage of 9.79%, while allowing the opposition 2,256 shots. They have a penalty kill percentage of 82.18% on the other teams 202 power play tries, and their save percentage sits at 91.4%.

Across the ice you are going to see Ilya Sorokin in the crease. His opponents are averaging 2.35 goals per game and he has yielded 290 goals altogether. Sorokin's quality start percentage is 71.0% and he has made 88 quality starting assignments in his pro career. He has started in 124 games and has played for a total of 7,418 minutes. Sorokin holds a career record of 65-43-17 and has participated in 127 contests. He has recorded 3,514 saves out of 3,804 shots tried, giving him a save percentage of .924.

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

Josh's Pick: Take New York (-225)

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