Sabres vs. Islanders prediction: Close contest projected after new data released for Saturday's NHL matchup [1/24/2026]

The NY Islanders will take on the Buffalo Sabres, in what is expected to be a tight NHL game, at UBS Arena on Saturday, commencing at 1:00 PM ET.

Based on the latest simulation results, Dimers' advanced NHL model gives an equal chance for both both teams to win the Sabres-Islanders matchup.

This article offers an expanded analysis of Saturday's Sabres vs. Islanders matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.

Sabres vs. Isles prediction: Who will win and cover?

Using innovative machine learning and statistical analysis, we have simulated the result of Saturday's NHL matchup between the Sabres and Islanders 10,000 times as part of our NHL predictions coverage.

Our independent predictive model currently can't split the two teams, giving both the Sabres and Islanders a 50% chance of winning the game.

According to our model, the Sabres (+1.5) have a 71% chance of covering the puck line, while the 6.5-goal over/under has a 55% chance of staying under.

Sabres vs. Islanders odds

We have sourced the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

Bet Type	Sabres	Islanders
Puck Line	+1.5 (-275)	-1.5 (+225)
Moneyline	-110	-105
Total	o6.5 (-102)	u6.5 (-115)

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Sabres vs. Islanders picks and best bet

After matching our probabilities against the best current odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:

Bet Type	Pick	Bet Now
Puck Line	Islanders -1.5	+225
Moneyline	Islanders	-105
Total	Under 6.5	-115

According to our NHL best bets, the top play to make on this game is Under 6.5 total goals.

Sabres vs. Islanders player props

Who will score a goal in Sabres vs. Islanders?

According to our model, Tage Thompson is most likely to score an anytime goal in Sabres vs. Islanders.

Our projections give Thompson a 43.1% chance of scoring a goal at UBS Arena, while the star is an 8.9% chance of netting the first goal the game.

Anytime goal scorer predictions

Buffalo Sabres

Player	Anytime Goal Probability
Tage Thompson	43.1%
Alex Tuch	29.4%
Jason Zucker	23.9%
Zach Benson	22.6%
Ryan McLeod	19.9%

NY Islanders

Player	Anytime Goal Probability
Bo Horvat	31.7%
Anders Lee	26.2%
Simon Holmstrom	25.8%
Anthony Duclair	24.2%
Mathew Barzal	23.0%

First goal scorer predictions

Buffalo Sabres

Player	First Goal Probability
Tage Thompson	8.9%
Alex Tuch	5.6%
Jason Zucker	4.4%
Zach Benson	4.1%
Rasmus Dahlin	3.9%

NY Islanders

Player	First Goal Probability
Bo Horvat	5.5%
Anders Lee	4.6%
Anthony Duclair	4.5%
Simon Holmstrom	4.4%
Mathew Barzal	4.2%

Sabres vs. Isles game-day updates and essential details

Saturday's action between the Islanders and Sabres at UBS Arena is scheduled to start at 1:00 PM ET.

• Who: Buffalo Sabres vs. NY Islanders
• Date: Saturday, January 24, 2026
• Time: 1:00 PM ET/10:00AM PT
• Venue: UBS Arena

Conclusion

We predict a close game between the Sabres and Islanders on Saturday, with each team having a 50% chance of winning.

AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Sabres vs. Islanders insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are sourced from the latest data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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