The Buffalo Sabres are set to take on the New York Rangers on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. Both clubs are jockeying for position in the Eastern Conference wild card picture, with Buffalo currently occupying one of those slots and the Rangers trying to get there themselves. Here, I break down this Eastern Conference matchup on the ice and give you my Sabres vs Rangers prediction.
Our Sabres vs Rangers Pick ATS PRO
| Pick: | |
| Confidence: | 4/5 |
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Buffalo Sabres vs New York Rangers
- Date & Time: Thursday, January 8, 2026, 7:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Madison Square Garden
- Broadcast: ESPN+
Key Storylines
Recent form
Buffalo comes in with strong recent results, having won four of their last five games, including an impressive 5-3 victory over Vancouver. Buffalo led by four goals before holding off a late rally from the Canucks in that game. Their hot streak places them in a playoff position to this point in the season. On the other side, New York has struggled, winning just one of their last five outings. Their recent inconsistency is compounded by injury absences that have disrupted their lineup, with JT Miller, Igor Shesterkin, and Adam Fox all out of action.
Goaltending
In goal, the Sabres are expected to rely on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who has been steady and effective, including a 32-save performance in their latest win. The Rangers are dealing with the absence of Igor Shesterkin, and veteran Jonathan Quick is expected to start. Quick has posted respectable numbers this season with a 2.23 goals-against average and a save percentage of .919, though he has not earned a victory since early November.
Key skaters
Key contributors for Buffalo include Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, and Ryan McLeod, all of whom have been integral in providing offense. The Sabres score over three goals per game and have been particularly successful when they reach the three-goal mark. For the Rangers, the offensive spotlight still shines on Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad, the latter coming off a historic Winter Classic hat trick.
Best Player Props ATS PRO
| Player | Prop |
|---|---|
| Tage Thompson (BUF) | |
| Alex Tuch (BUF) | |
| Artemi Panarin (NYR) |
Betting Trends & H2H
- The Rangers defeated the Sabres 4-0 in Buffalo in their first meeting of the season.
- Buffalo has won 11 of its last 12 games overall.
- New York is 5-10-4 at home this season.
- Buffalo enters this matchup at 9-10-2 on the road.
Buffalo Sabres vs New York Rangers Model Projection ATS PRO
Final Thoughts ATS PRO
