Islanders vs. Sabres prediction: Buffalo favored to win Tuesday's NHL matchup [3/31/2026]

NHL action continues on Tuesday at 7:00 PM ET as the NY Islanders square off with the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.

Based on the latest simulation results, Dimers' proven NHL model predicts the Sabres as the most likely winner of the Islanders vs. Sabres game.

This article offers further insights into Tuesday's matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.

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

Using trusted machine learning and statistical analysis, we have simulated the result of Tuesday's NHL matchup between the Islanders and Sabres, forming part of our NHL predictions coverage.

Our independent predictive model currently gives the Sabres a 60% chance of beating the Islanders.

According to our model, the Islanders (+1.5) have a 62% chance of covering the puck line, while the 6-goal over/under has a 51% chance of staying under.

Islanders vs. Sabres odds

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

Bet Type	Islanders	Sabres
Puck Line	+1.5 (-175)	-1.5 (+145)
Moneyline	+145	-170
Total	o6 (-110)	u6 (-110)

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

Islanders vs. Sabres picks and best bet

After matching our predictions against the best available 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	-175
Moneyline	Islanders	+145
Total	Under 6	-110

According to our NHL best bets, the top play to make on this game is Islanders to win.

These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.

Islanders vs. Sabres player props

Who will score a goal in Islanders vs. Sabres?

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

Our projections give Thompson a 41.9% chance of scoring a goal at KeyBank Center, while the star is an 8.9% chance of netting the first goal the game.

Anytime goal scorer predictions

NY Islanders

Player	Anytime Goal Probability
Bo Horvat	33.7%
Anders Lee	29.1%
Mathew Barzal	23.8%
Brayden Schenn	20.2%
Matthew Schaefer	19.4%

Buffalo Sabres

Player	Anytime Goal Probability
Tage Thompson	41.9%
Alex Tuch	33.7%
Jason Zucker	27.3%
Josh Norris	27.0%
Rasmus Dahlin	20.7%

First goal scorer predictions

NY Islanders

Player	First Goal Probability
Bo Horvat	6.8%
Anders Lee	5.8%
Mathew Barzal	4.4%
Matthew Schaefer	3.5%
Brayden Schenn	3.5%

Buffalo Sabres

Player	First Goal Probability
Tage Thompson	8.9%
Alex Tuch	6.7%
Jason Zucker	5.2%
Josh Norris	4.7%
Zach Benson	4.2%

Isles vs. Sabres game-day updates and essential details

Tuesday's matchup between the Sabres and Islanders at KeyBank Center is scheduled to start at 7:00 PM ET.

• Who: NY Islanders vs. Buffalo Sabres
• Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2026
• Time: 7:00 PM ET/4:00PM PT
• Venue: KeyBank Center

Conclusion

We predict the Sabres, with a 60% win probability, will likely beat the Islanders on Tuesday.

AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Islanders vs. Sabres 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, head to our responsible gambling hub.

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