Buffalo Sabres vs New York Islanders Prediction, 12/23/2024 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Buffalo Sabres vs New York Islanders

Date: Monday, December 23, 2024

Location: UBS Arena in Elmont, NY

TV: MSG

Odds/Point Spread: Sabres (+110) Islanders (-130)

The Buffalo Sabres (11-17-4) are hitting the road to UBS Arena on Monday where they will take on the New York Islanders (12-14-7). The moneyline on this contest has the Sabres at +110 while the Islanders are priced at -130. The over/under is set at 6.

The Buffalo Sabres were on the wrong end of the scoreboard with a 6-1 defeat against the Canadiens their last time out. The Sabres had a below average offensive performance in the defeat. In the game, they finished 1 out of the 21 shots they looked to score on. They also had 5 power play opportunities but weren't able to score a goal. Buffalo tallied 12 minutes in the box for this game.

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When talking about their scoring capabilities, the Buffalo Sabres have racked up 92 goals (23rd in the NHL) on the season and have surrendered 109. For the current campaign, they have tallied 26 points and their points percentage sits at .406. Buffalo comes into tonight with 94 power play opportunities and they have scored 13 goals out of those attempts, earning them a rate of 13.83%. When at even strength, the Sabres let the opposition score 85 goals while getting 79 on the offensive side of the ice. Buffalo has tried 888 shots and is the owner of a shooting percentage of 10.4%. The Sabres so far have had 940 shots attempted against them and hold a save percentage of .884. Buffalo Sabres opponents have 106 power play tries (6th in the NHL) and have notched 24 goals in those attempts.

The man in goal for this game is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Opponents have tallied 348 goals versus Luukkonen in his professional hockey career and his goals against average per contest is 3.62. Luukkonen has been in net for 122 games during his hockey career. His save percentage currently is .902 during his 5,764 mins in the crease. He has compiled a mark of 55-51-13 and he has started in 118 games. Over the course of his time in hockey, Luukkonen is sitting with 66 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is at .559. Luukkonen has had 3,568 shot attempts against him and has accrued 3,220 total saves.

In their last game, New York opposed the Hurricanes in a matchup where the Islanders ended up taking the loss by a score of 4-0. They had 1 opportunity on the power play in this outing but were not able to net one. The Islanders had 0 goals of the 32 shots on goal they attempted.

The Islanders have accumulated 73 goals at even strength and 11 goals (32nd in the NHL) while on the power play. New York has taken 931 shots (17th in pro hockey) and has earned a shooting percentage of 9.02%, while allowing the other team 943 shots. During this campaign, the New York Islanders have earned a total of 84 goals, 31 points, and a points percentage of .470. They have allowed 102 goals to be scored by of a combination of 77 goals at even strength and 25 goals while they were shorthanded. They have a total of 91 power play chances and they have accumulated a power play percentage of 12.09%. They have recorded a penalty kill rate of 64.29% on their opponents 70 chances on the power play, and their save percentage sits at 89.2%.

Across the rink you are likely to see Ilya Sorokin between the pipes. He has tallied 5,981 stops out of the 6,520 shots attempted, giving him a save % of .917. Sorokin has accumulated a career mark of 104-75-34 and has played in 215 games. He has been a starter 211 games and has been on the ice for 11,313 minutes. Sorokin's quality start percentage comes out to 67.8% and he has 143 quality starting assignments in his professional career. Opponents are averaging 2.86 goals/game and he has relinquished 539 goals altogether.

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

Josh's Pick: Take New York (-130)

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