The New York Rangers (1-3-1) and Buffalo Sabres (2-3-1) will play each other twice in the next three days at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y. Tuesday’s puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Rangers-Sabres NHL odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Rangers at Sabres: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:52 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Rangers -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | Sabres -110 (bet $110 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Rangers +1.5 (-300) | Sabres -1.5 (+240)
- Over/Under: 6 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Rangers at Sabres: Projected starting goalies
Alexandar Georgiev (1-1-0, .907 SV%, 2.40 GAA) vs. Linus Ullmark (1-1-1, .905 SV%, 2.55 GAA)
Georgiev started his season with a 23-save shutout against the rival New York Islanders, but he was torched for 4 goals on 20 shots in just two periods of work a week ago and hasn’t seen the ice since. He played the Sabres once last year and allowed 3 goals on 28 shots in a regulation loss.
Carter Hutton (undisclosed) is reportedly close to rejoining the lineup but Ullmark is expected to make a third start in five days. He stopped 28 of 31 shots against the Washington Capitals Sunday for his first win of the season.
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Rangers at Sabres: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Rangers 3, Sabres 2
Money line (ML)
The two teams are pretty evenly matched in key analytics of Corsi For percentage and scoring chances for at 5-on-5. The Sabres’ power-play unit has been the better of the two with 6 goals in 22 opportunities, while the Rangers have just 4 goals in 23 chances with the man advantage.
We can also give an edge to Georgiev in the goaltending battle. His two starts thus far couldn’t have gone much differently, but the season-opening shutout seems to be closer to what should be expected.
Ullmark has seen an increased workload with Hutton on the shelf and could begin to tire out against a Rangers team throwing 44.2 pucks toward the net, including blocked and missed shots, per game.
Against the spread (ATS)
AVOID the puck line. It’s rarely a profitable endeavor in NHL betting and that’s certainly the case between two evenly matched teams from the East Division.
Buffalo went to a shootout in back-to-back games against the Capitals and the Rangers have played to three straight 1-goal losses, with one against the Pittsburgh Penguins going to a shootout.
Over/Under (O/U)
Play the UNDER 6 (-105) while expecting Georgiev to bounce back from his awful outing against the Devils.
The Sabres are 4-2 against the Over/Under, but they’re playing to a modest 5.83 goals per game. The Rangers are combing for just 5.40 goals per game with their opponents.
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