Buffalo Sabres vs. New York Islanders odds predictions best bets

Buffalo Sabres at New York Islanders odds, picks and prediction

Previewing Sunday’s Buffalo Sabres at New York Islanders NHL odds and lines, with hockey picks, tips and predictions.

The Buffalo Sabres (6-13-3) play the third game of a three-game set on the road against the New York Islanders (14-6-4) Sunday with a noon ET puck drop at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Below, we analyze the Sabres-Islanders odds and lines, with NHL 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 8:35 a.m. ET.

Money line: Sabres +185 (bet $100 to win $185) | Islanders -225 (bet $225 to win $100)
Against the spread/ATS: Sabres +1.5 (-155) | Islanders -1.5 (+125)
Over/Under: 5.5 (O: +110 | U: -135)

Sabres at Islanders: Projected starting goalies

Jonas Johansson (0-2-0, 3.90 GAA, .902 SV%) vs. Ilya Sorokin (3-2-1, 2.16 GAA, .909 SV%, 2 SO)

Johansson is likely to get the starting nod after Carter Hutton coughed up five goals on 29 shots in Saturday’s matinee loss in Game 2 of this three-game set. Johansson faced the Isles Thursday and he also allowed five goals in a 5-2 loss, but he made 40 saves.

Sorokin turned aside 16 of the 18 shots he faced in a 5-2 win Thursday against the Sabres, and he also blanked them in Buffalo Feb. 16.

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Sabres at Islanders: Odds, lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Islanders 5, Sabres 2

Money line (ML)

Backing the Islanders (-225) will mean you need to risk more than two times your potential return, which is just a little more expensive than my personal money line limit of -180.

PASS.

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Against the spread (ATS)

The ISLANDERS -1.5 (+125) is the way to go, even with their backup netminder. The rookie Sorokin has been special, especially against the Sabres, beating them twice, including the one shutout.

The Isles won Thursday’s game against the Sabres 5-2, and they took Saturday’s matinee game 5-2, so why change things up now?

That’s three puck line covers in four meetings to date.

Over/Under (O/U)

The OVER 5.5 (+110) is plus-money, and it worked out the past two meetings in this three-game set. New York has the potential to take care of the Over all on its own, and as long as Buffalo can sneak at least one or two past Sorokin, the Over is a good play yet again.

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Buffalo Sabres at New York Islanders odds, picks and prediction

Previewing Saturday’s Buffalo Sabres at New York Islanders NHL odds and lines, with hockey picks, tips and predictions.

The Buffalo Sabres (6-12-3) play the second of a three-game set on the road against the New York Islanders (13-6-4) Saturday for a 1 p.m. ET puck drop at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Below, we analyze the Sabres-Islanders odds and lines, with NHL 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 6:05 a.m. ET.

Money line: Sabres +185 (bet $100 to win $185) | Islanders -225 (bet $225 to win $100)
Against the spread/ATS: Sabres +1.5 (-155) | Islanders -1.5 (+125)
Over/Under: 5.5 (O: +120 | U: -145)

Sabres at Islanders: Projected starting goalies

Carter Hutton (1-6-1, 3.18 GAA, .891 SV%) vs. Semyon Varlamov (10-4-3, 2.10 GAA, .927 SV%, 3 SO)

Hutton is projected as the starter after Jonas Johansson allowed five goals on 45 shots in Thursday’s series opener on the Island. With a back-to-back Saturday and Sunday, we’ll likely see Johansson again Sunday.

Hutton has really struggled, winning his only start Jan. 18 in Philadelphia. He has dropped his past five starts, including a 3-0 loss at home against the Islanders. Hutton was actually solid in that one, turning aside 21 of 23 shots, but the offense gave him no support.

Varlamov was sharp Tuesday in New Jersey, stopping 28 of 29 shots, and he was just 12 seconds shy of his fourth shutout of the season. He is projected to make his third start of the season against the Sabres.

Varlamov is 2-0-0 with a 1.50 GAA and .947 SV% in his two previous starts this season against Buffalo. Look for the Isles to roll on in the second of this three-game series.

Sabres at Islanders: Odds, lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Islanders 5, Sabres 2

Money line (ML)

The Islanders (-225) will cost you two times your potential return, and while they’re expected to win against the Sabres (+185), there is just no value here. Play the puck line for a better wager. PASS.

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Against the spread (ATS)

The ISLANDERS -1.5 (+125) is a much better play on home ice against the offensively-challenged Sabres +1.5 (-155). They won Thursday’s game by a 5-2 count against the Sabres, and they have covered the puck line in two of the previous three meetings with Buffalo so far this season.

Over/Under (O/U)

The OVER 5.5 (+120) will cost you a little extra, but the Islanders have the potential to take care of the Over on their own with little help from the Sabres.

If Buffalo can contribute anything, the Over is a solid play. They have totaled three goals in the first three meetings with New York, so don’t expect much more than a goal or two, though.

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Buffalo Sabres at New York Islanders odds, picks and prediction

Previewing Thursday’s Buffalo Sabres at New York Islanders NHL odds and lines, with hockey picks, tips and predictions.

The Buffalo Sabres (6-11-3) square off with the New York Islanders (12-6-4) Thursday with a 7 p.m. ET puck drop at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Below, we analyze the Sabres-Islanders odds and lines, with NHL 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 10:45 a.m. ET.

Money line: Sabres +165 (bet $100 to win $165) | Islanders -200 (bet $200 to win $100)
Against the spread/ATS: Sabres +1.5 (-175) | Islanders -1.5 (+145)
Over/Under: 5 (O: -130 | U: +115)

Sabres at Islanders: Projected starting goalies

Carter Hutton (1-6-1, 3.18 GAA, .891 SV%) vs. Semyon Varlamov (10-4-3, 2.10 GAA, .927 SV%, 3 SO)

Hutton is handling the everyday duties with Linus Ullmark on the shelf due to injury. Hutton has dropped five straight starts, including a 3-0 loss at home against the Islanders Feb. 16. He allowed 2 goals on 23 shots.

Varlamov allowed just one goal on 29 shots Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils, and he was 14 seconds away from his fourth shutout of the season before a late goal with an extra attacker. He is 2-0-0 with a 3 goals allowed and a .947 SV% in his two starts against the Sabres this season. Varlamov is also 6-0-2 with a 2.09 GAA and .934 SV% in eight starts at home.

Sabres at Islanders: Odds, lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Islanders 5, Sabres 1

Money line (ML)

The ISLANDERS (-200) are slightly over my personal money line limit of -180, but sometimes you have to make an exception.

New York has been red-hot, vaulting within two points of the first-place Washington Capitals in the East Division. The Sabres enter on an 0-3-1 skid, and they have scored just two total goals in their previous three outings.

Facing the Islanders isn’t a cure for the ills of the Sabres, either. Buffalo has dropped six in a row against the Isles, and each of their past six trips to Long Island, as well.

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Against the spread (ATS)

The ISLANDERS -1.5 (+145) are a good play on the puck line, as they have won by 2 or more goals in six of their past eight victories, including two of their victories over the Sabres.

Over/Under (O/U)

The OVER 5.5 (+125) on the alternate line is risky considering the Sabres have been shut out in two of their past three games, but the Islanders are 5-1-1 to the Over in their past seven home games and 3-1-2 in their past six as a home favorite.

The New York offense should be able to pile up plenty of goals against Hutton and could even take care of the Over without any help from the Sabres.

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