The New York Rangers (17-15-4) play the second of a two-game set against the Buffalo Sabres (7-23-6) Saturday with a 7 p.m. ET puck drop at KeyBank Center. Below, we analyze the Rangers-Sabres odds and lines, with NHL picks and predictions.
The Rangers won the front end of the back-to-back set Thursday, posting a 3-2 victory in overtime as the Under connected. New York has won two of the past three, and they have won three of the past five games on the road.
The Sabres lost for the 19th time in the past 20 games, but they have been competitive of late. Buffalo has picked up at least one point in each of the past three, including a 6-1 win against the Philadelphia Flyers on March 31.
Rangers at Sabres: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:15 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Rangers -250 (bet $250 to win $100) | Sabres +210 (bet $100 to win $210)
- Against the spread/ATS: Rangers -1.5 (+105) | Sabres +1.5 (-130)
- Over/Under: 6 (O: +100 | U: -120)
Rangers at Sabres: Projected starting goalies
Igor Shesterkin (9-8-1, 2.29 GAA, .924 SV%) vs. Linus Ullmark (6-5-3, 2.49 GAA, .920 SV%)
The 25-year-old was in between the pipes Thursday, as he turned aside 21 of the 23 shots he faced to win 3-2 in overtime. He has won two straight starts and five of his past six outings.
Shesterkin is also 3-0-0 with a 1.92 GAA and .917 SV% in three starts against the Sabres this season, with all three games decided by a 3-2 score, including two in overtime.
Ullmark allowed just one goal on 32 shots in a 6-1 win last time out against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday, helping the Sabres snap a franchise-worst 18-game winless drought.
He heads into this one 1-0-1 with a 2.44 GAA and .928 SV% in two starts against the Rangers this season.
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Rangers at Sabres: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Rangers 3, Sabres 2
Money line (ML)
The Rangers (-250) are a little too expensive for my liking, especially since four of the previous five meetings this season have been one-goal games. The Sabres (+210) really seem to play New York tough.
AVOID.
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Against the spread (ATS)
The SABRES +1.5 (-130) aren’t terribly expensive catching a goal and a half on home ice. They covered the puck line in the front end of the back-to-back, falling 3-2.
In fact, four of the previous five games in this series have been 3-2 scores, with the Rangers winning three of those outings. Two have been decided in overtime, too. Back Buffalo.
Over/Under (O/U)
UNDER 6 (-120) is worth playing, as four of the five meetings this season have cashed the Under. The Under is also 10-5 in Shesterkin’s past 15 starts, including 3-0 in his three assignments against Buffalo.
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