Buffalo Sabres vs. New Jersey Devils Prediction (February 25th, 2026)
Hockey is finally back again on Wednesday night, and you will certainly have your choice of bets to place. My favorite game to target is an exciting matchup between the Buffalo Sabres and the New Jersey Devils.
New Jersey is struggling in the Metropolitan Division, but they still have 28 wins to their name. Their shaky defense and spotty 13-14-2 home record combine to make the Sabres a compelling upset pick, with Buffalo entering as a fun -102 bet.
Buffalo has been the better team to this point, as they entered the Olympic break at 32-19-6 and boast one of the best offenses in the NHL. The point isn’t whether New Jersey is any good, but more than this game harbors some pretty fun wagers.
Ready to find out what the best Sabres vs. Devils picks are? Join me as I break down this matchup en route to a final Buffalo Sabres vs. New Jersey Devils prediction.
Game Info
- Matchup: Buffalo Sabres (32-19-6) vs. New Jersey Devils (28-27-2)
- Date & Time: Wednesday, February 25th, 2026, at 6:00 pm (7:00 pm ET)
- Venue: Prudential Center in Newark, NJ
- How to Watch:ESPN+, MSG Buffalo, and MSGSN
Betting Odds
Take a look at the latest Buffalo Sabres vs. New Jersey Devils odds, courtesy of FanDuel:
| Team | Puck Line | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
Kraken | +1.5 (-280) | -106 | Over 6.5 (+108) |
Devils | -1.5 (+220) | -113 | Under 6.5 (-132) |
Recent Form & Context
To get a better idea as to what to expect out of this matchup, let’s quickly break down how these teams have fared to this point.
Buffalo Sabres
- Buffalo has a high-powered offense that averages 3.37 goals per game (8th).
- The Sabres spread the puck around well and are unselfish, ranking 10th in assists (328).
- Buffalo is solid when they have numbers, as they are 16th with 34 power-play goals.
- The Sabres are productive despite not being a high-volume offense, ranking just 18th in total shots and 5th in shooting percentage (12.2%).
- The Sabres are very good at defending power plays, owning an 82.5% penalty kill rate (7th).
- Buffalo is better than advertised defensively, as they allow 3.09 goals per game and rank 3rd in saves and 6th in saves percentage.
Injuries
- RW Justin Danforth is trending toward a return, but his status is unknown for Wednesday’s game.
- LW Zach Benson is dealing with an upper-body injury and is not expected to suit up for this game.
- LW Jordan Greenway is dealing with a hernia and will not play on Wednesday night.
New Jersey Devils
- The Devils have been putrid on offense, scoring just 2.51 goals per game (31st).
- New Jersey hasn’t shared the puck at a high level, either, ranking 29th in assists.
- The Devils are at their best in power play (20th with 30 goals).
- New Jersey ranks 7th in shots taken, but they are the least efficient offense in hockey – dead last in shot rate (8.6%).
- The Devils are a middle-of-the-pack defense, as they don’t give up a crazy amount of shots or goals.
Injuries
- New Jersey is pretty healthy coming out of the break. Luke Hughes is the only player in doubt, as he opted to not get surgery and is rehabbing an injury.
Matchup Breakdown
This is a fun matchup in the fact that it boasts precious little defense. Both of these offenses are capable of exploding, too, as Buffalo simply has a fantastic offense, and the Devils are very aggressive in the way of shot volume.
New Jersey does have Olympic hero Jack Hughes in tow, and he’s part of a diverse attack. Seven different Devils players have 10+ goals, but this offense can often be too stagnant and not creative enough in traditional 5v5 settings.
That isn’t the case for the Sabres, who are far more efficient, spread the puck around effortlessly, and are decent enough in power-play settings.
New Jersey gets a lift in power play, but Buffalo’s elite penalty kill rate probably negates any edge they might have. All things considered, it’s tough to figure how New Jersey comes into this one as the favorite, other than the fact that they’re playing this game on their home ice.
Playing Styles & Trends
- Buffalo: The Sabres have a strong transition offense that attacks well off of turnovers. They offer elite playmaking and puck control, and can also take advantage in power play.
- New Jersey: The Devils are a heavy shot volume squad, but they lack efficiency or consistency and can be stagnant outside of power play situations.
- Special Teams: Power play is a bit of a wash, as both teams do find success here in regards to scoring. The Sabres are better at preventing scores in PP, however.
- Defense: New Jersey may have the better traditional defense, but the Sabres do a better job in power play and protect the net with the best of them.
Betting Market Notes
- Puck Line (1.5: -280/+220): Buffalo comes in at +1.5 because they’re on the road, but they’re an astronomical -258 to stay within 1.5 goals, and New Jersey is a very poor bet to win by two.
- Moneyline (-106/-113): This is a nicely priced moneyline. Solid value with New Jersey at home, but the Sabres feel like an auto smash bet despite a shaky road record.
- Total (6.5: +108/-132): New Jersey’s offense creates problems for this bet, but their shot volume and Buffalo’s elite offense do enough to get me excited for the Over – especially at plus money.
Props & Alternative Markets
- 1st Period – Sabres +0.5 (-215): New Jersey is at home, but that’s really the only thing that would have me going to them. Buffalo stands out here, but you can do a mild hedge and just bet on them staying within one through the first period. This is a winner if the game is scoreless, tied, or if they’re ahead.
- Goal in First Ten (-166): Buffalo’s offense is quite solid, so I like their chances to jump out to an early lead. New Jersey’s shot volume and both teams’ doing well in power play combine to make this a pretty comfortable bet.
Best Bets for Detroit vs. Toronto
Check out my preferred Buffalo Sabres vs. New Jersey Devils bets for tonight:
| Bet | Why Do We Like It? | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
Buffalo Sabres ML (-106) | The Sabres aren’t great on the road, but they’re the better team and well rested. They have the edge in every area of this matchup, and we get them at a pretty severe discount. | 7/10 |
Over 6.5 (+108) | Buffalo’s strong offense, less-than-elite overall defense, and New Jersey’s shot volume all combine to make the Over pretty viable here, especially at this appealing price tag. | 6/10 |
As betting lines tighten for Sabres vs. Devils, bettors are targeting the ML and goal total markets. Monitor odds changes at our top sports betting sites.
Risk Factors & What Could Go Wrong
Betting on hockey can be risky, so keep the following things in mind when placing these Buffalo Sabres vs. New Jersey Devils bets:
- Road Woes: The biggest obstacle here is the fact that Buffalo has to try to steal a road win. They aren’t great on the road, but New Jersey is the worst team and also isn’t close to reliable on their home ice. Still, if Buffalo starts slow and doesn’t get comfortable, this game being on the road could derail my Sabres vs. Devils bets.
- Weak Offense: Win or lose, New Jersey’s offense could ruin one of my Buffalo vs. New Jersey picks. I highly doubt the Sabres can score seven goals all on their own here, so I am trusting the Devils to chip in a bit. If they don’t oblige, the Over could be in trouble.
Buffalo Sabres vs. New Jersey Devils Prediction
The Sabres come into this matchup with a shaky road record, but they’re in good form overall, having gone 6-3-1 over their last 10 games. They also have a lot to play for, as they’re just five wins behind Tampa Bay in their division.
Whether they can close that gap or not is a debate for another day, but the Sabres will be motivated to start a winning streak following the break. On top of that, they benefit from being the far better team in this spot, so any Buffalo Sabres vs. New Jersey Devils prediction starts and ends with them winning.
The moneyline for Buffalo is absurd, so that is the easiest click of this game, and perhaps the entire slate. I think they have the chance to generate a lot of offense in this matchup, and there’s enough there to feel good about New Jersey getting something going as well.
The Over is within reach, but it’s admittedly a tougher sell than the Sabres’ ML. Both look great, but if you only want one Sabres vs. Devils pick to target, Buffalo to win is the call.
Final Score Prediction: Buffalo Sabres 4, New Jersey Devils 3
