The New York Rangers (44-21-10) visit the Buffalo Sabres (35-31-7) Friday. Puck drop from KeyBank Center is set for 7 p.m. ET (NHL Network). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Rangers vs. Sabres odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
New York lost 2-1 at the New Jersey Devils as a +126 underdog Thursday. The loss snapped a 3-game win streak, but the Rangers are still 7-2 in their last 9 games as they now sit in 3rd in the Metropolitan Division.
Buffalo suffered a 4-3 shootout loss as a -165 favorite at home vs. the Montreal Canadiens Monday. The loss snapped a 2-game win streak and the Sabres are just 2-5 in their last 7 games. The Sabres are 7 points back of the final Eastern Conference Wild Card with 9 games remaining in their regular season.
The Rangers lead the season series 1-0 after winning in a 2-1 OT battle on Mar. 11 in Buffalo. Two games remain in the season series.
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Rangers at Sabres odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:43 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Rangers -145 (bet $145 to win $100) | Sabres +125 (bet $100 to win $125)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rangers -1.5 (+160) | Sabres +1.5 (-190)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -140 | U: +112)
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Rangers at Sabres projected goalies
Jaroslav Halak (10-8-3, 2.68 GAA, .905 SV%) vs. Devon Levi
Halak has not faced Buffalo yet this season, but is 13-4-0 with a 2.08 GAA and .923 SV% (406 saves on 440 shots) in his career against them.
Levi was drafted with the 212th pick by the Florida Panthers in the 2020 draft before his signing rights were traded to the Sabres along with a first-round pick in 2022 in exchange for C Sam Reinhart. Levi is expected to make his NHL debut in this game.
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Rangers at Sabres picks and predictions
Prediction
Rangers 3, Sabres 2
Moneyline
BET RANGERS (-145).
New York should be able to win this game despite being on the road. The home team is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings between these 2 squads but that is outweighed by the Rangers being 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Buffalo. The favorite is also 45-17 in the last 62 meetings.
Puck line/Against the spread
LEAN SABRES +1.5 (-190).
This is a bet with a heavy -190 favorite attached which does add some risk, but this is a pretty safe bet. However, the last 4 meetings between these clubs, and 7 of the last 10, have been 1-goal games including 4 games that needed overtime or a shootout to resolve.
Over/Under
LEAN UNDER 6.5 (+112).
The Under is 9-4 in the last 13 meetings overall between these teams and 21-7 in the last 28 meetings in Buffalo. The Under has been the overwhelming safer bet when it comes to recent meetings between these teams.
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