New York Islanders vs Buffalo Sabres Betting Pick & Prediction for Saturday on 12/20

bangthebook nhl game preview

The New York Islanders are set to play against the Buffalo Sabres at the KeyBank Center. The game will take place on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at 5:00 PM. Fans can watch the game live on ESPN+.

The Islanders have a record of 19-13-3 this season. They rank 5th in the Eastern Metropolitan Division. On the other side, the Sabres hold a 15-14-4 record. They are positioned 15th in the Eastern Atlantic Division.

Islanders vs Sabres Game Day Info

  • Sport: NHL
  • Teams: New York Islanders vs. Buffalo Sabres
  • Venue: KeyBank Center
  • Date: Saturday, December 20, 2025
  • Betting Odds: Buffalo Sabres MoneyLine -152, New York Islanders MoneyLine +127

New York Islanders Team Preview

The New York Islanders are on the road, looking to improve their recent performance. They lost their last game against the Vancouver Canucks 4-1. In that game, Anders Lee scored the only goal for the Islanders, while Ilya Sorokin made 26 saves on 29 shots.

In their previous game against the Detroit Red Wings, the Islanders fell short with a 3-2 loss. Emil Heineman and Scott Mayfield each scored a goal in that game. Sorokin again was in goal, saving 18 of the 21 shots he faced.

Earlier in December, the Islanders had a better run, winning two games against the Anaheim Ducks and Tampa Bay Lightning. Against the Ducks, they scored five goals, with Anders Lee contributing two goals and two assists. The win against the Lightning was tighter, ending 3-2, with Matthew Schaefer scoring one of the goals.

Buffalo Sabres Team Preview

The Buffalo Sabres have been on a roll recently. They won their last game against the Philadelphia Flyers with a score of 5-3. In that game, the Sabres had 28 shots on goal and scored one power play goal.

In their previous away game, the Sabres defeated the Seattle Kraken 3-1. They had 23 shots on goal and managed to keep the Kraken to just one goal. Alex Tuch was a key player, with two assists and three shots on goal.

Alex Lyon has been solid in the net for the Sabres. In the game against the Vancouver Canucks, he made 30 saves on 32 shots. The Sabres won that game 3-2, despite being outshot by the Canucks.

BTB Betting Pick

For the moneyline pick, the Buffalo Sabres are favored at -152. They have a slightly stronger offensive showing with 101 goals and 176 assists this season. The New York Islanders are the underdogs at +127. Given the Sabres’ edge in both goals and assists, the recommendation is to pick the Buffalo Sabres to win the game. The projected score is Buffalo Sabres 4, New York Islanders 3.

In terms of the over/under, the line is set at 6.0. The combined goals for both teams suggest a total of 7 goals, with the Sabres scoring 4 and the Islanders scoring 3. This indicates a tendency towards the over. The recommendation is to take the over at 6.0 (-120) for this game.