The Buffalo Sabres (4-4-2) play the first of a two-game road set against the New York Islanders (3-4-2) at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum Tuesday for a 6 p.m. ET puck drop. Below, we analyze the Sabres-Islanders NHL odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Sabres at Islanders: 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: Sabres +115 (bet $100 to win $115) | Islanders -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Sabres +1.5 (-250) | Islanders -1.5 (+200)
- Over/Under: 5.5 (O: +110 | U: -135)
Sabres at Islanders: Projected starting goalies
Linus Ullmark (3-1-2, 2.56 GAA, .914 SV%) at Semyon Varlamov (3-2-1, 2.00 GAA, .924 SV%, 2 SO)
Ullmark is projected as the starter. He is coming off a 4-3 shootout win over New Jersey on Saturday. He allowed just three goals on 34 shots in that seesaw affair. Ullmark coughed up three goals on 26 shots in a 3-2 overtime loss in New York Dec. 14, 2019 in his only appearance against the Islanders last season.
Varlamov started out like a ball of fire, posting shutouts in his first two outings, while winning each of his first three with only one goal allowed. The bottom has dropped out as he has gone 0-2-1 with a 3.64 GAA and .855 save percentage across his past three starts.
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Sabres at Islanders: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Islanders 4, Sabres 2
Money line (ML)
The ISLANDERS (-135) are a good bet to bounce back on home ice. The Sabres (+115) are just 2-10 across their past 12 as an underdog, and they have dropped eight of the past 10 meetings with the Isles, including each of their past five on the Island.
Against the spread (ATS)
The ISLANDERS -1.5 (+200) are worth a look with the potential to double up, although they’re only worth a small-unit wager. This is risky the way Varlamov has been leaking oil lately but worth a shot based upon Buffalo’s awful trends in the series.
Over/Under (O/U)
The OVER 5.5 (+110) is a good value at plus-money, although it might take a late empty-net goal to get you across the finish line. You’ll be going against all recent team trends and series trends, which point to the Under being the play. But based upon Varly’s shoddy play lately, and Buffalo allowing 11 goals over the past three outings, the Over is worth a look.
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