New York Islanders vs Buffalo Sabres Prediction, Preview and Odds - 03/31/2026

Game Time: 7:00 pm ET, Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Venue:  KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY

Where to Watch:  ESPN+

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  Islanders +164, Sabres -198; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  Islanders +165, Sabres -200; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  Islanders +165, Sabres -200; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

New York Islanders:  42-27-5 (2nd place, Metropolitan Division)

Buffalo Sabres:  45-21-8 (2nd place, Atlantic Division)

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New York Islanders:  6-4-0 last 10

Buffalo Sabres:  6-2-2 last 10

The Islanders are entering this game with 89 points, a 42-27-5 record overall, and they are 21-15-3 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Florida Panthers in their last game, winning that one at home 5-2, but this is also the 2nd game of a back-to-back for them with their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins still to be played on Monday night. In their game against the Panthers, Brayden Schenn, Marc Gatcomb, Casey Cizikas, Emil Heineman, and Simon Holmström each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Brayden Schenn and Matthew Schaefer each led the team in assists with 2 while Brayden Schenn and Matthew Schaefer each led the team in shots on net in that game with 5. Ilya Sorokin was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 2 goals on 21 shots with 19 saves and a .905 save percentage. Their offense has scored 216 goals this season averaging 2.9 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 209 goals against them allowing 2.8 goals per game.

The Sabres are entering this game with 98 points, a 45-21-8 record overall, and they are 23-10-4 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Seattle Kraken in their last game, winning that one at home 3-2 in a shootout. Peyton Krebs and Rasmus Dahlin each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Jack Quinn, Tage Thompson, and Zach Benson each led the team in assists with 1 while Tage Thompson led the team in shots on net in that game with 5. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 2 goals on 34 shots with 32 saves and a .941 sv percentage. Their offense has scored 259 goals this season averaging 3.5 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 218 goals against them allowing 2.9 goals per game.

The current betting odds have the Sabres listed as a big favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Sabres have looked really good in their games this season with their 45-21-8 record overall which has them right near the top of their division in the East. They have looked great on home ice too with their 23-10-4 home record this season. Meanwhile, the Islanders have looked good in their games this season with their 42-27-5 record overall which has them right near the top of their division in the East. They have been a good road team too with their 21-15-3 road record this year. The Islanders have been good in their road games this year, but they definitely haven't been at their best in those and they aren't in a great situation for this game now. They are 6-4-0 in their last 10 games and coming off a 5-2 win over the Panthers in their last one, but they are also playing this game on a back-to-back with a really tough game against the Penguins the night before. That is also a really important game in their division with the current standings, so the Islanders won't have their best effort for this game the very next night. The Sabres are going to be looking to take advantage of them and they have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL for weeks now. They are off another win in their last one, beating the Kraken 3-2, and they are 6-2-2 in their last 10 games too. The Sabres have also looked a lot better on home ice this season, so look for them to take advantage of the Islanders in a tough situation here. The best way to place a bet here is on the Sabres to win this game and on the puckline. 

Islanders Sabres Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Tuesday, March 31, 2026 (7:00 pm ET start time) is Sabres 3 Islanders 1.

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New York Islanders: 117-126 (-16.6 units) on the moneyline in all games. 8-13 (-5.1 units) on the moneyline revenging a home blowout loss vs opponent of 3 goals or more. 113-116 (-10.2 units) on the moneyline against mistake free teams - opponents average 4 power plays/game or less. 14-7 UNDER revenging a home blowout loss vs opponent of 3 goals or more. 

Buffalo Sabres: 120-118 (+10.2 units) on the moneyline in all games. 56-37 (+6.9 units) on the moneyline as a favorite of -200 or less. 33-32 (+5.9 units) on the moneyline when playing against a marginal winning team (Win Pct. 51% to 60%). 18-10 UNDER after playing 3 consecutive home games.

New York Islanders:  T. DeAngelo (D) Out - Lower Body. A. Romanov (D) Out - Shoulder. P. Engvall (LW) Out For Season - Ankle. S. Varlamov (G) Out For Season - Knee. K. Palmieri (C) Out - Knee.

Buffalo Sabres:  N. Ostlund (C) Day To Day - Upper-Body. J. Kulich (C) Out For Season - Ear. J. Greenway (LW) Out - Abdomen. J. Danforth (RW) Out - Lower Body.

“We knew before the game that Tkachuk would try to sneak behind us and make great plays. That second goal was pretty spectacular. The way he brought it between his legs and put it upstairs. It was a great move by him. But after that, I mean, I felt like we just played our game, Islanders hockey. I mean, we were good on the forecheck. Our forecheck was outstanding.” - Patrick Roy after his team’s win against the Panthers in their game on Saturday. 

“A great play. We had a lot of good plays in the game, we didn’t convert on some of them. He’s (Krebs) made some really good plays down the stretch for us a lot of games, especially to tie this game. Taking the hit in the (Los Angeles) game (a 4-1 win on March 21) for the game winner. Just big plays.” - Lindy Ruff after his team’s win against the Kraken in their game on Saturday. 

LW Anders Lee

C Bo Horvat

RW Emil Heineman

LD Matthew Schaefer

RD Ryan Pulock

G Ilya Sorokin

LW Peyton Krebs

C Tage Thompson

RW Alex Tuch

LD Mattias Samuelsson

RD Rasmus Dahlin

G Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Points: Mathew Barzal (65)

Goals: Bo Horvat (30)

Assists: Mathew Barzal (47)

GAA: Ilya Sorokin (2.47)

Points: Tage Thompson (76)

Goals: Tage Thompson (37)

Assists: Rasmus Dahlin (50)

GAA: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (2.57)

Coaches:

New York Islanders: Patrick Roy (3rd season)

Buffalo Sabres: Lindy Ruff (2nd season)