The New York Islanders look to snap out of a funk when they play host to the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night. New York is off to a slow start after reaching the Eastern Conference Finals last season. Buffalo is playing uninspiring hockey after finishing the 2019-20 season with a losing record. Sabres vs Islanders betting shows both teams going all out for the confidence-boosting win.
Let’s find out if Buffalo is the online betting pick to get it done on the road or whether New York is the better sportsbook betting pick at home.
First, though, let’s look at the value-packed NHL odds for all of tonight’s matchups.
Buffalo (4-4-2) at NY Islanders (3-4-2)
When: Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET
Where: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
TV: NBCSN
NHL Odds: Buffalo -805/NY Islanders +282
Odds To Win 2021 NHL Stanley Cup.
Consistency Eluding Sabres
The Sabres have alternated wins and losses over their last four games. But, then suffered a humbling 5-3 loss against New Jersey on Sunday. Buffalo got goals from Curtis Lazar, Rasmus Dahlin, and Rasmus Ristolainen but couldn’t overcome a 2-0 first-period deficit.
“I feel like we are a better team,” Ristolainen said afterward. “We have more skill. But we just need to match the work ethic.”
Buffalo has gone 2-1-1 on the road while topping the O/U total in six of its 10 matches so far. The Sabres are ranked 20th in scoring (2.8 gpg), seventh in shots attempts per game (32.2) and seventh in power-play percentage (30.8). Defensively, Buffalo is ranked 22nd in goals allowed (3.1 gpg), 19th in shots allowed (30.4), and 22nd in penalty killing (82.6%).
Isles Looking To Snap Ugly Skid
New York has lost five straight, including its heartbreaking 4-3 overtime loss against Philadelphia on Sunday night. Nick Leddy lit the lamp in the second period to keep the Islanders within striking distance, down 3-1 entering the final period.
Josh Bailey and Matthew Barzal both scored in the third period to level the score at 3-all. Philly got the game-winner on Kevin Hayes’ power-play goal in OT as New York suffered consecutive overtime losses against the Flyers.
“I think the guys are recognizing how hard you have to work and how detailed you have to be,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said.
“I’m taking the positive out of it. We’re sitting there (down two goals) after two periods. The way the week has gone we could’ve said, ‘Let’s get out of here.’ And we didn’t.”
The Islanders are ranked a dismal 29th in scoring (2.1 gpg), 21st in shot attempts per game (29.3) and 20th in power-play percentage (15.8). Defensively, New York is ranked an encouraging 11th in goals allowed (2.7 gpg), sixth in shots attempts allowed per game (27.1), and 14th in penalty killing (77.8%).
NHL Division Futures – Dark Horse Candidates revealed.
Expert Analysis and Prediction
New York might be struggling right now, but I like the Islanders to get a much-needed win in this matchup on Tuesday night. The Isles are struggling offensively, but Buffalo just doesn’t have the most potent offense around.
New York is the far better defensive team in this pairing. The Isles have gone 2-0 at home so far this season. Buffalo has gone 0-5 in its last five road dates against the Islanders. New York has gone a commanding 8-2 in the last 10 meetings. The home team in this rivalry has gone 6-2 in the last eight meetings.
New York is one of my ‘under the radar’ picks to threaten in the playoffs for the second consecutive season and I like the Islanders to get it done on Tuesday night.
Pick: Islanders 4, Sabres 3
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