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Looking for New York Islanders vs. Buffalo Sabres free NHL predictions? NHL betting sees the Islanders taking on the Sabres on 12/20 at KeyBank Center, in Buffalo. This free NHL pick is based on matchup analysis and documented handicapping data tracked by CappersPicks since 2004, with a focus on identifying the strongest betting angle for this Islanders Sabres matchup.
(19-13) New York Islanders vs. Buffalo Sabres (15-14)
Date: Dec 20, 2025
Time: 5:00 PM ET
Venue: KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY
NHL Moneyline Odds: Islanders +127 | Sabres -152 (Bet Now!)
Today’s NHL Puck Line Betting Odds: Islanders +1.5 | Sabres -1.5
NHL Hockey Gambling Total: O/U: 6
Here’s why I’m backing a small Buffalo ML bet below in my Islanders Sabres free pick & gambling prediction for this matchup.
The New York Islanders head into Buffalo looking to steady the ship after a frustrating loss. Under head coach Patrick Roy, the Islanders sit at 19-13-3, good for fourth in the Eastern Metropolitan Division.
Their most recent outing didn’t go as planned, falling 4-1 to the Vancouver Canucks and leaving a bit of a bad taste heading into this road matchup.
Buffalo, meanwhile, appears to be trending in the right direction. Coached by Lindy Ruff, the Sabres hold a 15-14-4 record and currently sit eighth in the Eastern Atlantic Division.
More importantly, they’ve started to stack wins, taking three of their last four games, including a solid victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.
Historically, the Islanders have held a slight edge in this matchup, winning two of the three meetings last season. That said, most of those games were tight, with margins rarely getting out of hand. Overs have also been a theme lately, cashing in two of the last three meetings between these teams.
Now at KeyBank Center, the Islanders will try to reset and clean things up, while the Sabres look to ride their recent momentum on home ice.
With one team searching for consistency and the other quietly heating up, this one sets up as a sneaky competitive matchup.
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2025 NHL Hockey Handicapping
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From a betting perspective, the Sabres come in as the favorite, carrying a -152 moneyline. The Islanders check in as underdogs at +127, which reflects Buffalo’s recent form more than any massive gap between the teams.
On the puck line, New York sits at +1.5 (-196), while Buffalo is priced at -1.5 (+159).
Looking at recent results, the Islanders have been up and down. The loss to Vancouver was forgettable, but a win over the Tampa Bay Lightning showed they can still rise to the occasion when things click. Consistency, however, remains the issue.
Buffalo’s recent stretch has been much cleaner. Winning three of their last four, including a 5-3 victory over the Flyers, the Sabres have found ways to score and close games.
Playing at home only adds to their confidence heading into this one.
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Buffalo’s recent surge has been fueled by timely offense and improved execution. They’ve picked up wins against the Flyers, Kraken, Canucks, and Oilers, a stretch that suggests this isn’t just a soft-schedule mirage.
Scoring hasn’t been an issue, and the confidence is noticeable.
Tage Thompson continues to lead the way offensively, posting 17 goals and 13 assists in 33 games. Alex Tuch has been right there with him, adding 11 goals and 18 assists while playing in all situations. When those two are rolling, Buffalo becomes much harder to slow down.
On the back end, Rasmus Dahlin has been steady and productive, logging 23 assists and 36 blocks.
In goal, Alex Lyon has handled the workload well, turning aside 451 shots and giving the Sabres reliable minutes between the pipes.
Special teams have also helped. Buffalo’s power play ranks 11th with 19 power play goals, a nice bonus for a team already finding success at even strength.
The Islanders continue to feel like a team searching for rhythm. They’ve shown flashes, including a narrow win over Tampa Bay, but the blowout loss to Vancouver highlighted some lingering issues.
When things go wrong, they tend to snowball.
Offensively, Bo Horvat has been the engine, leading the team with 19 goals and adding 12 assists. Mathew Barzal remains a key playmaker with 27 points, though New York still struggles to generate consistent secondary scoring.
Defensively, Matthew Schaefer has been active with 49 blocks, while Emil Heineman brings a physical edge with 120 hits. That grit helps, but it hasn’t always translated into clean defensive results.
In net, Ilya Sorokin remains the backbone. He’s made 614 saves across 24 games and continues to keep the Islanders competitive even when breakdowns occur in front of him.
David Rittich provides support, but Sorokin is still the clear workhorse.
New York Islanders vs. Buffalo Sabres bottom line: Buffalo’s recent momentum and home ice give them the edge, but if the Islanders can tighten up defensively, this one has all the makings of another one-goal grind.
Here is my Islanders Sabres free pick: Buffalo has been playing with confidence, winning four of its last five games and looking comfortable closing them out. That kind of form usually shows up early.
The Sabres have also rewarded backers lately, especially when they dictate pace. Their ability to turn momentum into results has been noticeable during this stretch. The Islanders have gone the opposite direction, dropping three of their last five.
Even in competitive games, they’ve struggled to finish strong.
New York’s issues have shown up against the number as well, with run line failures piling up. That points to a team that’s often just a step behind.
Buffalo gets the added benefit of playing at home, where energy tends to lift their pressure game. Because they push tempo in their own building, opponents don’t get many breathers.
Confidence at home can turn small edges into wins.
The Islanders can keep games tight, but mistakes have been costly lately. One bad stretch usually changes the tone.
Buffalo doesn’t need to dominate possession to win this matchup. Timely scoring and steady goaltending are enough.
Overall, this feels like a spot where current form matters more than reputation. Buffalo has been the sharper side. Buffalo on the moneyline at -152 is the play. Ride the momentum.
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Back at it tonight against the Islanders!
🎟️ https://t.co/WawM21PyUZ
📺 https://t.co/xpiwlMIITP#LetsGoBuffalo | @MarathonFuel
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) December 20, 2025
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“The Line” is an avid sports fan of 25-plus years with in-depth editorial experience as an NBA/MMA/Boxing and College Football handicapping expert and analyst for SB Nation, Fansided, ESPN.Com and other respected sports punditry sites. His NBA expertise is a perfect fit for Cappers Picks and he holds an excellent track record in selecting winners in boxing and MMA events too. Your bookie won’t know what hit him after you start following The Line’s winning daily plays! Stay tuned for more winners daily.
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